Chinese researchers report progress in monkeypox fight

This undated file image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) shows a colorized transmission electron micrograph of monkeypox particles (red) found within an infected cell (blue), cultured in the laboratory that was captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility in Fort Detrick, Maryland, US. (NIAID VIA AP)

A Chinese research institute said on Thursday that it has successfully isolated the monkeypox virus from samples of infected cases and has begun researching vaccines and drugs to fight the infectious disease.

The Wuhan Institute of Biological Products, a research unit under the State-owned Sinopharm's China National Biotech Group, made the announcement.

The World Health Organization declared the global monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on July 23.

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