UPDATE - Mexican Delegation To Visit Moscow To Discuss Production Of Sputnik V Vaccine - Official

MEXICO CITY (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th May, 2021) A delegation of Mexican experts led by the head of the Mexican laboratory for biological agents and reagents Birmex, Pedro Zenteno Santaella, will visit Moscow to study technologies for producing Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus, Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell said.

The Latin American nation authorized the emergency use of Sputnik V on February 2, while the first batch of the drug arrived there on February 22.

"Doctor Santaella has just got a permit from the president to carry out and head this mission," Lopez-Gatell said at a press conference on late Thursday.

He noted that the invitation for Santaella to visit Moscow had been sent by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) on May 6.

According to Lopez-Gatell, the visit will provide Mexican experts with the knowledge necessary for the production of Sputnik V.

The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020. To date, more than 155.62 million people have been infected with the coronavirus worldwide, with over 3.25 million fatalities, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Mexico has registered more than 2.35 million COVID-19 cases so far, with over 218,000 fatalities.