I want to thank all those of you who participated yesterday,
uh, in, uh, in honouring, uh,
our colleagues and and all humanitarian workers for World Humanitarian Day.
Quick reminder that tomorrow 21 August is International
Day of Remembrance and tribute to the victims
22nd of August is International Day for Commemorating
the victims of acts of violence based on
Uh, we could just start right away with some announcements,
and our friends from WTO are here.
And so I'm going to let Fernando make the due introductions.
Um, well, the month of September is quickly approaching,
and it's the time of the year when the WT organises the the public forum.
it's the largest outreach event of the organisation.
We'll be meeting at W-2 premises from the 13th from the 10th to the 13th of
September with quite an interesting, uh, list of events and speakers
and the person behind the organisation.
And the preparation of this important event is my colleague uh, Javier Gutierrez,
who's kindly agreed to join us today to give
us a bit more information about the public forum.
Uh, my name is Javier Gutierrez,
and I'm going to tell you a bit about what we can expect for the upcoming, uh,
this year. The public forum is titled, uh, Reg Globalisation.
Better trade for a better world. And it will be honing in
on how trade can be more inclusive.
We want to look at how people can trade more within countries and amongst, uh,
between isolated members,
but also how more people within members can actually start training.
Like Fernando said, this is our biggest outreach event.
Last year we broke the the the record number for participants,
and this year, a week before we close registration,
which closes on the 23rd of August at midnight Geneva time,
we have already broke the record.
This is a testament of the interest that people have in the WTO.
And, um, the work that we are actually doing.
It's four days of discussions like Fernando said
from the 10th to the 13th of September,
there will be over 120 independently organised
discussions centred around how trade can become more inclusive.
And what Reg globalisation may look like.
On the 10th of September, we will begin with the launch of the World Trade Report.
the flagship report of the WTO. Fernando will be telling you a bit more about that.
And then in the evening we will have a
plenary session organised by the Peterson Institute for International Economics
on the 11th of September, we have the official opening of the pub, uh,
And it will be with a lecture by Jason Furman from Harvard University.
Jason was formerly the chair of the Council of Economic Advisers
It will then be followed by a plenary debate on the WTO turning 30
looking at the past 30 years of the WTO and what lies ahead.
And the second plenary will be on how to reinvigorate agriculture negotiations
there will be two plenaries one on what is preventing more countries from, uh,
And it will ask the question, Is it market access or is it a domestic policy issue?
And the second Pary you will be on how
to better use special and differential treatment provisions in the WTO.
there will be a head of agency panel which
will bring together the Director General of the WTO.
Um it will also bring together the Secretary general of
the president of the World Economic Forum. And we still have, um, pending
the director General of the WHO
to discuss the economic case for inclusivity.
we're going to have a plenary discussion with
youth representatives on how globalisation can be improved.
The idea behind conceiving these panels is to provide WTO members
food for thought or a different perspective on long standing issues
to help them during the negotiations.
We are just emerging from a a ministerial conference
where, um, some progress was made. However, we want to use these public events
to help members come up with more, Uh
with a wider perspective.
Um, during the four days, we will have over 600 speakers in the WTO,
including ministers, CEO, S and thought leaders from all around the world.
Some sessions may be followed online, mainly the plenaries.
Uh, however, if you wish to attend the public forum.
Please contact my colleagues at the media team,
and they will be able to provide you with some more information.
may add. Javier was referring to the launch of the World Trade Report on the 10th,
the day before on the ninth at 4. 30 at the WTO, the chief economist Ravosa
will be giving a press conference and the embargo
with information related to the world trade report.
there's no need to do the registration before the 23rd that deadline.
That's for the for the public. In general.
With your UN budgets, you will be able to access
W-2 premises as usual. Thank you.
Gentlemen, uh, if there are any questions on this important announcement from WTO.
Uh, please raise your hands. Now.
If not, you know whom to contact.
Uh, I don't see any in the room. I don't see
so thanks very much. Good luck with your event.
We're going to give the floor now to our colleagues. From who
Jarvi online from headquarters in Geneva, and
regional director for Europe, who is
Tarek, perhaps you want to do the introductions and set the scene. Thanks.
Thank you. Thank you very much. Uh, mia
and good morning to To to everyone,
uh, So, uh, you have received, uh, yesterday, Uh uh,
temporary recommendations following the announcement of
the public health immersive the national concern
ox. So, uh, we had a EC. Meeting on Wednesday.
We made that announcement, and as promised,
uh, we sent you the temporary recommendations issued,
uh, by director general for,
uh, countries in African region experiencing outbreak,
but also for other countries.
see there that, uh, uh, What is really recommended to countries.
It's a coordinations of emergency,
uh, situation, then surveillance diagnostics, clinical care.
So So these these recommendations are primarily, uh,
for the countries that are experiencing outbreak, but also for other countries.
Uh, because one of the goals of the of the declaration of
of, uh, global health emergency is for all countries to be on alert and be ready.
uh, territory. So, uh, that really sets the scene?
Uh, and we are happy to have today our regional director, Dr
who will speak about, uh, uh,
debt preparedness work that is being done in European, uh, region.
And you will You will remember that there was an announcement
by Sweden a few days ago about the first case of,
plague one that has been detected outside outside Africa.
Also, uh, with us is, uh, doctor Katie Smallwood.
She's the emergency operations programme area manager,
in the, uh, regional office, uh, for Europe. And she also may
come in to answer some of the, uh, more technical questions.
With this, I'll give the floor to Doctor Kluger
Thank you very much, Tarik.
As we tackle inox as a public health emergency of
international concern for the second time in two years,
I want to convey three basic messages today on behalf of
inbox is not the new covet,
regardless of whether it's
behind the ongoing outbreak in East Central Africa,
that initially impacted Europe
and has continued to circulate in Europe since
We still have to learn more about grade one.
Based on what we do know,
ox primarily transmits through skin to skin contact with
ox lesions, including during sex.
This leads me to message number two.
and in the European region
we know the steps needed to eliminate its transmission altogether.
Two years ago, we controlled
Thanks to the direct engagement
with the most affected communities
of men who have sex with men,
We thoroughly investigated new cases contacts,
and we provided sound public health advice.
Non-discriminatory public health action
contributed to controlling the outbreak.
Learning from our success,
we urge governments and health authorities to sustain those measures
to help eliminate impacts from Europe.
But through a lack of political commitment
and a lack of resources, we failed to go the last mile
and today we're seeing about 100 new
in the European region every single month.
However, the current state of alert due to Grade one
gives Europe the opportunity
A second chance, Let's say
surveillance and diagnostics
to issue public health advice,
including to travellers grounded in science, not in fear, not using stigma
and not through discrimination
antivirals for those who may need them
based on a strategic risk assessment
even as we strengthen vigilance amongst
Oxlade one, we can and should strive to eliminate
Grade two in Europe for once
And this brings me to message number three.
The need for a co ordinated response is now the greatest in the African region.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
WHO's Global Declaration.
Europe must choose to act in solidarity,
solidarity with individuals and communities impacted by
by working directly with them
to take charge of their own health
and its affected member states
both at this critical time and in the long term
showed us it can spread quickly around the world.
and must tackle impacts together
across regions and continents.
So will we choose to put the systems in place to control
and eliminate impact globally.
Or we will enter another cycle of panic and neglect.
How we respond now and in the years to come will prove a critical test
Thank you for your important messages. Uh, Doctor Kluger,
I know that we have a lot of journalists here in Geneva who cover,
ox, Uh, and I'm going to, uh I'm going to give them a moment
and see whether yeah, please go ahead. Maybe just
yes, thank you very much. So my na me is ma.
news Japanese news Agency.
I wanted to ask you, like which country already prosed
And, um, if possible to have, like, a clear overview of the V,
the doses you already have And where these doses a RAREAREARE going.
I I'm I'm talking now for Europe, but especially for the world and for Africa.
Dr Kruger. I. I don't know if you want to take that question. If
did you hear it as it is?
Yes. The question is very clear. Very important as the global question.
Hi. Hi. Thanks. Thanks very much indeed.
Uh, this is, uh this is more global question, so we'll try to answer it.
Yeah. Thank you. Derek. I just wanted to get your hand the hand down. Yeah.
So, basically, as you know, there are two vaccines that have been used, uh,
in the last two years for the control of
That's M VA, BN and LC 16.
WHO has been discussing the availability
of these vaccines with the manufacturers.
Director General has triggered what we call emergency use listing process
the availability and the pre qualification of
these vaccines that already have been,
for example, uh uh, uh, authorised for use in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
So for the MBABN vaccine, its manufacturer, uh, Bavarian Nordic has the capacity
to manufacture 10 million doses by the end of 2025
in addition to current orders, and could already supply up to 2 million doses.
Uh, this year, when it comes to, uh, LC 16,
that's a vaccine that's produced on behalf of the government of Japan.
There is a considerable stockpile of this vaccine and Jap
Japan has been very generous in the past with donations.
the the Japanese government right now is currently preparing to provide supplies,
vaccines and syringes in collaboration with
the government of Democratic Republic of the
So we are also working with partners like Gavi
and UNICEF through what is called intermed cultra Measures network
to enable donations from countries with existing stockpiles.
We are building the donation scheme so that the limited vaccines are used
where they are. We have the biggest public health impact as you.
As you know, we are not recommending the the mass vaccination.
We are recommending to use vaccines in,
uh, outbreak settings for the, uh, groups who are most at risk.
Um, yes, a question for Dr Kluger.
I'd like to elaborate on the vaccine issue.
You are saying that M park is not the new covid
yet. Do you fear that in terms of solidarity
the donation of vaccines, it could be
the new covid in the sense that
European countries could,
get the the the vaccines for themselves and we we
might see a lack of vaccines for for African countries.
it's a risk, but it's also an opportunity.
That's why the title of my press statement was
a test for global equity.
The global international community will have to prove
that we learned from the COVID-19.
So in that sense, it's promising
that Hera, for example, for the European Union
is donating vaccines. Belgium
as well has been spoken out forcefully to donate vaccines.
So we're very optimistic we see this.
if there will be a need for more and more vaccines in the WHO
what European countries will do in that sense.
So this is why it's very important this link also between
the European region, the African region.
We are in constant touch with Dr
the region director of the W African region,
as well as the African CDC, under the guidance of the WHO headquarters,
So this is the litmus test
for global equity. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Doctor Kluger,
We've got several, uh, questions from, uh, from journalists online.
I'll take them in the order that I received them. Uh, first up, Katherine
Uh, thank you, doctor, for being with us. Uh, this morning,
um, I'd like to ask a question related to the fact that,
uh um it it could be an airborne disease.
What can you tell us about that?
I'm looking right. Just to remind I'm not speaking globally.
We have Tariq here for globally, but from the
the public health advice of the last two years still stands.
We are dealing in the double European region
Yes, there is one case of trade one in Sweden,
but the predominant route of transmission
close. Skin to skin contact sexually
men having sex with men so very important to empower trusted messengers
in higher risk groups and communities avoid stigma and discrimination.
it is possible that someone, let's say in the acute phase
especially when having blisters in the mouth
may transmit the virus to close contacts by droplets in certain circumstances,
such as in the home or the hospitals.
Some evidence in certain situations, such as contaminated bedding
or utensils in a hospital
that may lead to transmission.
The new plate. One B appears to be more transmissible from person to person.
that the mode of transmission is still a bit unclear.
More research is required,
public health advice as the last two years.
I think a key message here is that
the risk to the general population is low because that's the question I'm getting,
whether it's from family members or from neighbours here in France.
Or are we going to go in a lockdown in WHO European region instead of COVID-19?
So the answer is clearly no, of course, always with a caveat.
But the risk to the general population is low. We know what to do,
we need this time the political commitment to go for elimination.
Otherwise we will always see
So let's have a political commitment
to go the last mile and especially
stand in solidarity with the African region. This is the top. Thank you.
Uh, thank you, Katherine. I believe you have a follow up.
Yes. Thank you. Thank you so much. Uh, Mile.
OK, um, maybe this is more a question to, uh, Tariq, then,
advising people to wear masks
Um, because if played, one
might be, uh, transmittable.
Uh uh, airborne, um, an airborne disease.
It would be better for people that are travelling from
certain regions, African regions and travelling in aeroplanes
to different parts of the world to wear a mask Is WO
Uh, we do not recommend, uh, masks as doctor Kruger said that, uh, this, uh,
virus is being transmitted to a closed skin to skin contact
or with a contact with infected animal.
Or it could be also happen through the surface.
So obviously, we don't know that the the the viruses are mutating and changing.
Uh, and we have to be, uh, on, uh,
on alert to see if there will be new plagues that
will be more transmissible or the transmission route would would change.
So we have to be We have to be flexible for the time being.
What we know is that this virus is being
transmitted through a closed skin to skin
contact that includes also sexual violence.
But there is something else and maybe also to to to to answer to what? Uh,
what Jeremy was asking. I mean, we learned a lot from covid.
Uh, and and I think that the main, uh, the main, uh,
lesson is that we need to have a strong health systems.
ox, just like any other virus can be tackled with a basic public health response.
And that's to know where the virus is to know who is
infected and make sure that this person does not infect other people.
And for that, countries need to have a surveillance system.
They need to have testing. Uh uh, capacities.
They they have to have a clinical care capacities to help those who are infected.
So I think I think the the the the biggest lesson is is we need Cooper
Global Cooper operation and we need
strong health systems And I think, uh,
these recommendations that are being issued by
EC and that complement those standing recommendations
Uh, from 2023 That, uh uh, doctor,
Doctor Kruger was referring to Speak exactly about about, uh, preparedness.
fits into into negotiations that countries are doing on a pandemic treaty.
Because again, that lesson is that we need to be collectively, uh, more, uh,
ready and having more capacities
to to tackle this sort of, uh, these sort of threats.
Thank you, Tarik. Uh, next up, Yan
from the Xinhua News Agency. The floor
yours. Go ahead. Ask you a question.
Thank you. Thank you, sir. My question is the first one. How do you
assess the severity of the cli
Can we say it's more deadlier than other clits like a cli one or cli two?
My second question is, how do you assess the risk of circulation among animals
and we will be like another avian flu. Thank you.
Maybe maybe Doctor Smallwood can, uh, can help here from, uh From what we know,
we know that plaid one is
more severe than plaid two.
but we are now looking into whether there is a really difference between plaid
one and plate one. B. Uh, it's, uh it's been just a recent
that that we discovered played one B. It is spreading fast. And we had countries
played one B a couple of countries just in
the past couple of weeks. But we are still not sure about the severity, but maybe Dr
Smallwood can can talk more about the actual virus.
Yeah, thanks. Thanks a lot, Tarik. Um, and as, uh, Doctor Kluger
mentioned, um, in the European region, we've only had one,
plaid one. B reported, um, to us,
um, that was from the government of Sweden.
And we do know that that case presented, um, with clinically mild signs and symptoms
consistent with what we expect to see with
in the European region of over 20
And we have the privilege of having extremely detailed case information
on all of those 27,000 cases.
Um, and in general, it does present with clinically mild, um
But patients, especially those who have,
um some immuno deficiencies can go on to have, um, severe disease now,
Right now, as Tarek said, we've seen the emergence of this new plaid one. B.
We do have information that plaid one,
that we have some previous data of presented with more severe disease.
That But having said that,
there will always still be a profile of clinical presentations.
Some patients will present with mild signs and symptoms.
Other will progress to have more severe disease for plaid one B,
which is this new plaid that we've picked up, um,
transmitting between humans. There's still some
in information and knowledge gaps to be filled.
So what's critical here is that we work together,
and we help understand each and every case as much as possible.
And in the European region, we've committed
to doing extensive investigations into each case to very quickly understand
when they are imported into our region and once they've been detected,
what the clinical profile of these cases are.
Thank you very much. Doctor Smallwood. Uh, Robin JF, France
if we start to see cases of plague one be appearing and spreading
Uh, what do you think will be the likely way in which that will happen?
Do you think it will be, uh, just imported cases appearing, or do you think it will,
uh, likely start to spread through sexual networks?
Or do you think it may possibly come through another route if it, uh,
if it starts to spread in Europe?
I don't I. I assume this is a question for Dr Kluger or
I can take that one. And it's a great question.
And it leads us to the point that at the clinician level,
we need to lower the bar of suspicion for
Ox. Um, because we don't actually know the answer to that question.
We have the experience of 2022
where we saw PRI previously.
A change in the epidemiology in the African region where we
saw in West Africa the disease change epidemiology in 2017,
and then five years later,
we saw a very significant outbreak across the world with with up to
more than 2000 cases per week at its peak in the European region
that that was initially imported
and then was seeded into one particular population group,
Um, which was men who have sex with men.
Although we did see some limited number of cases outside of that group as well.
And we do continue to look beyond that group,
so we don't know the question. So it's really the answer to that question.
It's really important that the clinician level that we're not only looking at
presentations, um, in men who have sex with men, Of course,
that we're still seeing transmission there anyway because
ox still circulates in Europe
but that clinicians also consider other population groups and, uh,
and do not discount patients because of their population group.
Thank you very much. Isabel. Efe
Good morning. Uh, everyone,
uh, it's on vaccines. Uh, so it's more.
for Derek. I would like to know. Um uh, II I, uh I mean to understand
the the first vaccine that you mentioned
Uh, it has been, uh, used, uh,
in Africa. I understand. And in Europe.
But the LC 16, uh, produced by
or by order of of Japan. This, uh, vaccine has been already used.
Um, and, uh, related to this. There are plans, uh, to,
um, uh, proceed with the vaccination campaign in In.
Uh, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Hi. Uh, thanks. Uh, thanks. Isabel. Both of these vaccines have been used.
Uh, previously. Uh, there's also a third vaccine. Uh, it's called
AC AM 2000. Uh, that is also recommended by Sage.
In case those 21 those previous two ones N, VA, BN and LC 16
All these vaccines are being, uh, a newer vaccines that have been developed for
And, you know, smallpox have been eradicated,
but these vaccines have been developed even after the eradication.
And and smallpox is of the same family
So for the, uh, for the vaccination, it is really necessary to see,
uh uh uh in a local context Where, uh, where there is the outbreak.
Who are the, uh, uh, groups at risk and how to roll out the the the vaccination.
So, uh, Democratic Republic of the Congo has already authorised the use of, uh,
And now, as I said, there are discussions on donating vaccines.
Uh uh uh, by the government of Japan.
Then it's really in getting to to really to the to the local context, to see, uh,
to understand the transmission mode, to understand the groups at risk, uh,
and then to to make really the decision at the local level
on on how to roll out the vaccine and how to vaccine.
Thank you. Just a a question on on clade one.
if you could explain the difference between
clade one, which I understand, is now renamed as clade one A
What are the differences that you that you see between these two clades? How do you,
uh, clearly make that distinction? Thank you.
maybe Doctor Smallwood, Would you like to To start?
I can do, um So the split of clade One into one a and one, B.
Um, references. Um, uh, the change in, uh, the evolution of the virus.
So it's a virological question.
Um, and what we see is that clade one
um, what used to be called the Congo basin.
Um uh, clade, which has circulated for a long time in the Democ
Democratic Republic of Congo and in Central Africa
and has traditionally been, um, the Clade that we understand,
outbreaks resulting from zoonotic spillover IE um, sick animals infect, um,
And then there's some limited transmission
between humans at the household level or in communities
where the difference is with clade one B is that, um,
we have not isolated or detected zoonotic transmission of clade B.
that's circulating exclusively within the human population
and some of the viral changes Um, that virologists have identified,
um, show us that it's likely that it tra transmit.
It's more effectively from human to human.
So that suggests a shift in the way that
clade one is circulating in the human population,
and hence the split between one A and one B.
ox can transmit between humans without the need for an animal population.
because for the past two years,
ox has been transmitting in countries where there is no,
So this is not completely new for
there are some gaps that we need to fill the knowledge
of and better understand in terms of what the additional difference
is if there are any between one bee and the other
claims that are circulating around the world and in Africa.
Thank you very much. Doctor Smallwood.
I've got, uh, two more questions announced so far.
We start with Catherine. Go ahead.
Yes, Uh, thank you again for giving me the floor.
Uh, my question is related to vaccines.
Uh, what about the manufacturing, uh,
manufacturing of vaccines and also about the efficiency?
Because I suppose that you need some
months years to better understand the differences between a grade one grade two
and the efficiency of the vaccines towards those different the evolution of,
Could you give us more details about that? Thank you so much.
Uh, maybe I can I can start I.
I already provided the answer on on availability for two, for two vaccines. Uh,
so I said, uh, as I said that that, uh,
M VA BN Bavarian Nordic has capacity to
manufacture 10 million doses by the end of 2025
and can already supply up to 2 million doses this year.
And LC 16 is a vaccine produced on behalf of the
government of Japan and there is a considerable stockpile of this vaccine.
Japan has been very generous in the past
with the donation is currently negotiating with the
with the, uh, with the government of of Congo for the for for the for the donation
ox vaccines provide a level uh uh uh uh provide
a level of protection against the infection and severe disease
results from vaccine effectiveness.
Studies indicate that a good level of protection is provided against
ox following vaccination. Now, further studies on the use of vaccines
ox will provide additional information on
the effectiveness in different settings.
So we also recommend that people, after being vaccinated,
continue to take care to avoid catching and spreading.
And that's because it takes several weeks
to develop immunity after being vaccinated,
and also because some people may not respond to vaccination.
I can just add to to Tarek's, um, contributions
on effectiveness. In in particular.
Um, there's, of course, the vaccine efficacy itself.
And we're confident that, um, the vaccine would be,
um, able to to seek the the benefits of immunisation across different plas of
ox because, as we know, these, these were
that were actually developed for smallpox and and, uh,
are effective against different Ortho box viruses.
Um, but in terms of the overall effectiveness, in a population sense,
there's a lot more that needs to be considered.
And that's also the timing of the vaccination if administered, um, after exposure
and whether or not, um uh the the person goes on to to develop the disease,
um is really dependent on the, um, early administration of,
um of a vaccine post exposure.
there's also the preventive aspect of vaccination where we propose that, um,
people at high risk of, um uh of infection with
ox, um would be considered for vaccination.
And there's a lot of, um, uh, concerns or aspects around,
acceptance and demand that need to be considered as well.
Uh, in the European region.
Um, as I said, we we've had a vaccine, um programme Ongoing since 2022.
Um, and we are, um, due to publish in the coming days, Um,
a a summary of the effectiveness of the
vaccine programme in the European region for,
pox outbreak. And so those results will be available shortly
and again, just to maybe to reiterate that vaccines are just one of the tools, uh,
Tracing strong surveillance, Uh,
public health measures in preventing the spread of disease.
All of that, uh uh should be put in place and again, uh, as as as we have been saying,
just really knowing where the virus is knowing who is infected,
making sure this person gets adequate clinical care
and breaking those transmission chains,
making sure that the person is not infecting anyone else.
Thank you. We'll come back to the floor of the press room. Go ahead.
Thank you very much for taking my question. Tarik.
I just have a follow up regarding, um, Isabel's question about the LC 16 vaccine.
Uh, I would like to know how many doses of MMM
vaccine have been provided by the government of Japan
IN the past, um, to the African countries
And what does it mean when you a RE saying that they have been generous?
so I guess the the vaccines a RE for free because it's it
seem that they a RE produced by the government of Japan and offered,
uh, is it a good understanding?
And then, uh, is it correct to say that the LC 16 vaccines a RE more numerous
than the vaccine produced by on karaian
for first III I didn't say that they are more efficient.
Uh, so, um, I I don't have the exact number.
Maybe it's the question for government of Japan to
to say how much they have already done it. I don't really have that.
Uh uh, that that answer. But again, as I say, um,
the government of Japan is currently preparing to provide supplies, uh,
and syringes in Cooper operation with the government of the RCW to
Uh, thank you. Uh, and yes. Go ahead.
Yes, thank you. This is a question to to Tarik on vaccines
you mentioned, uh, before a third vaccine. Um,
I think maybe I missed that,
but I think you didn't say who is producing
producing this third vaccine and in which country.
I would like to know if you plan to do some,
as you did with the covid with the number of cases by countries and specifying the
idea of the numbers. Thank you.
I really have to come back to you on who is producing exactly this AC AM 2000 vaccine.
is, uh is recommended for use if those two are not, uh, not available.
on that. Now there is a dashboard. So you can, uh, we can share.
We can share with you the the dashboard that already exists. That,
that gives really the overview of numbers.
And it's just, like, always important to to,
To make a difference. Because we've got several questions lately about
different numbers that we had on the on the dashboard,
uh, about, uh, lab confirmed cases and reported cases for, for example, when,
when we talk about more than 15,000 cases this
year in Democratic Republic of the Congo alone,
We talk about reported cases that, uh, include suspected cases.
Uh, but yes, there is a there is a dashboard. And obviously, uh uh,
we are trying to update you. You got over the weekend,
Uh, updated, Uh, Q and a S.
to to to have all the all the information and
the products and public health advice on our on our website
Carrick, I can help you out.
AM 2000 vaccine is a second generation smallpox vaccine
that has been produced in the United States.
Thank you very much. Colleagues. I've got two more questions online.
and to give me contaminate
checking to see if you if, uh, perhaps your microphone is, uh is muted.
us a minute to see if, um,
if he's able to, uh, perhaps text his question in the chat.
Um, because we do not have an audio connection with them,
but I do not also do not see,
I also do not see a, um, a question coming in on the chat.
So, uh, you know, perhaps,
uh, unless we see this coming in,
uh, shortly, I would say most
Do you know, feel free to put your question in writing.
I'm sure you know, targets available,
as are, uh, our other, uh, you know, colleagues from WO.
And I'd like to thank all of you,
uh, WO colleagues for this very timely and comprehensive briefing.
It was really excellent. I learned a lot myself
and, uh, thank you for your time and for for, uh, answering
all the questions from the journalists here today.
We may still get something in by writing in which case, we'll pass those on to you.
I think we'll we'll move on to some announcements. Then,
if there's nothing forthcoming.
we've got the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination,
which is concluding its session next Friday,
and it's going to issue its concluding observations on
the reports of seven countries reviewed during the session.
Venezuela, Iran, Pakistan, Bosnia Herzegovina, the United Kingdom,
Iraq and Belarus. They will
for a press conference on Friday,
the 23rd of August at 9. 15
So you'll have the the chair,
the vice chair and two of the committee members here briefing you
The Committee on the Rights of Persons With Disability
is concluding its review this morning of the reports on Ghana
Uh, and the Conference on Disarmament is holding this morning
in the tempest plenary meeting
under the presidency of Daniel
I think I have no further announcements to make
and oh, OK, we've got questions there, and yes, go ahead.
Uh, this is a question on Sudan to, um which UN agency could answer to that,
is is there, but maybe other agencies, or
actors plan to move through the Adri crossing today
So I wanted to ask UN agencies if they could comment on that, if they could let us know
what are their plan for today? Thank you.
I think it's a good question.
And yes, And I know that as of as of a few hours ago, we had no
updates on that. I don't know that there's anybody online
HCR may have some information, but I don't know. I don't see I don't see or
Hello? Hello? Yes, we can we can. Excellent.
Just just to confirm what you're you're saying, Like,
we don't have any any last minute updates, but just to confirm that,
at least from UN HCR side,
uh, we plan to transport our trucks.
Uh, we have about 1200 relief co relief items. Emergency relief items
Uh, two of them. Uh, hopefully will will depart from for
as part of the interagency convoy and the
two remaining tracks will be scheduled for tomorrow.
and I said, no, no updates on how that is going at the moment.
We can follow up on it and let you know as soon as it happens.
uh, thank you, Olga I. I know.
And yes, it's probably not very much to go on,
but I think there are a lot of people waiting for this information.
uh, if we have anything, we'll make sure to share it with you.
thank you, Tarek, for answering online. The question about
Catherine Smallwood. She's the emergency operations and programme area manager
in the WO regional office for Europe, in case
others were interested in knowing
lifting my head now out of my papers to look
and see if there are any questions from the floor.
But I don't think we have any more,
and I don't see any online. So with that,
very good afternoon. Thanks so much
