WHO recommends global unity, coordinated action as steps to combat Mpox

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stressed that coordinated global efforts are essential to contain and control the ongoing mpox outbreak. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, announced a $135 million action plan to address the crisis over the next six months.

Addressing the global community at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Tedros stressed the need for concerted action from international agencies, national and local partners, civil society, researchers, manufacturers, and WHO member states.

He emphasised the importance of equity, global solidarity, community empowerment, human rights, and cross-sectoral coordination in the response.

“Responding to this complex outbreak requires a comprehensive and coordinated international response, In the past month, cases of clade 1b have been reported in four countries neighboring DRC, which had not reported mpox before: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. This week, cases have also been reported in Thailand and Sweden.

“Let me be clear: this new mpox outbreak can be controlled and can be stopped. Our initial estimates are that the SPRP requires approximately $135 million over the next six months for the acute phase of the outbreak.

“That amount will likely increase as we update the plan in light of growing needs,” Tedros said, noting that a dedicated WHO funding appeal will be issued in the coming week.

The rapid spread of the new clade 1b variant was the primary reason for declaring mpox a global public health emergency on August 14.

In recent weeks, cases of clade 1b have been reported in countries neighboring the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, as well as in six other African countries: Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Central Africa Republic, Gabon and Cameroon. The DRC has emerged as the epicenter of the 2024 outbreak, accounting for 90 percent of reported cases.

The WHO and its partners have developed a comprehensive strategy focusing on surveillance, response measures, research advancement, minimising zoonotic transmission, and community empowerment to combat the outbreak.

Known as the Global Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, SPRP, the strategy focuses on comprehensive surveillance and response strategies, and advancing research and equitable access to medical countermeasures.

Mpox, a zoonotic viral disease, can be transmitted from animals to humans and from human to human. It was first identified in 1970 in the DRC and shares similarities with smallpox, a disease eradicated worldwide in 1980.

Fever, excruciating headache, back discomfort, pains in the muscles, poor energy, enlarged lymph nodes, and sores or rashes on the skin are typical symptoms.

The majority of mpox cases resolve on their own in a few weeks, but in three to six percent of cases recorded in endemic areas, it can result in serious health issues or even death.

Children, elderly individuals, and those with compromised immune systems may be more vulnerable to the disease’s more severe symptoms and eventual demise.

Vanguard