Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the first vaccine for adults against the virus, which is an important step in fighting the disease in Africa and elsewhere, the WHO said on Friday. The Bavarian Nordic company's vaccine will be available for purchase by international organizations such as UNICEF. However, its supply will be limited.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the first pre-qualification of an anti-pox vaccine is an important step in the fight against the disease.

What is the goal of the vaccine? 

The goal of vaccine prequalification is to ensure that vaccines are safe and effective. Under WHO approval, the vaccine can be given in two doses to people aged 18 years and above. Although the vaccine is not licensed for people under 18 years of age, it can be used in infants, children and adolescents where the benefits of vaccination outweigh the potential risks.

What are the symptoms of ampox?

Officials at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said last month that nearly 70 percent of the cases in Congo, the country most affected by ampox, are in children. Ampox, formerly known as monkeypox, is an infectious viral disease. Its main symptoms are rashes, blisters, fever and body pain.