May 24 (Reuters) - Moderna Inc is testing potential
vaccines against monkeypox in pre-clinical trials as the disease
spreads in the United States and Europe.
The World Health Organization said on Tuesday there have
been 131 confirmed monkeypox cases and 106 further suspected
cases since the first was reported on May 7 outside the
countries where it usually spreads.
Moderna did not immediately respond to a request for more
details on the monkeypox vaccines.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the
government was in the process of releasing doses of a smallpox
vaccine Jynneos, made by Bavarian Nordic A/S, for use
in monkeypox cases.
(Reporting by Leroy Leo in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak
Dasgupta)