Tag: Combat

WHO Unveils Global Strategic Plan to Combat Mpox Outbreak

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Coordinated Effort to Halt Human-to-Human Transmission

The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced a comprehensive Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan aimed at curbing the human-to-human transmission of mpox. This global initiative follows the WHO Director-General’s declaration of a public health emergency of international concern on August 14.

Plan Overview and Funding Needs

The six-month plan, covering September 2024 to February 2025, anticipates a funding requirement of $135 million. This budget will support WHO, Member States, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), communities, and researchers. Member States were briefed on the plan on August 23, with further inputs expected.

A funding appeal to meet the WHO’s needs for implementing the plan will be launched soon.

Key Focus Areas

The plan emphasizes several critical areas:

  • Surveillance and Prevention: Strengthening surveillance systems and implementing preventive measures to control outbreaks.
  • Research and Medical Access: Promoting research and ensuring equitable access to diagnostic tests, vaccines, and other medical countermeasures.
  • Animal-to-Human Transmission: Reducing the risk of transmission from animals to humans.
  • Community Engagement: Empowering communities to play an active role in outbreak prevention and control.

Strategic vaccination efforts will target high-risk groups, including close contacts of confirmed cases and healthcare workers, to disrupt transmission chains.

Global and Regional Collaboration

At the global level, the plan focuses on providing strategic leadership, evidence-based guidance, and ensuring access to medical countermeasures for vulnerable populations in affected countries. WHO is collaborating with a wide range of international, regional, national, and local partners to enhance coordination across key preparedness, readiness, and response areas.

Key partnerships include:

  • ACT-Accelerator Principals Group
  • Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, and Response
  • R&D Blueprint for Epidemics
  • Interim Medical Counter Measures Network (i-MCM Net)

Upcoming Scientific Conference

On August 29-30, 2024, WHO, in collaboration with Africa CDC, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will host a virtual scientific conference. The event aims to align mpox research with outbreak control objectives.

Leadership and Coordination

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized the importance of a coordinated response. “The mpox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries can be controlled and stopped,” he said. “This SPRP provides a comprehensive plan, grounded in equity, global solidarity, community empowerment, human rights, and cross-sector coordination.”

Regional and National Efforts

WHO headquarters and regional offices have set up incident management support teams to lead preparedness, readiness, and response activities. These teams are scaling up efforts, particularly in affected countries.

In Africa, WHO’s Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) and Africa CDC will jointly lead the coordination of mpox response efforts. They have agreed on a unified plan and budget approach as part of the Africa Continental Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, which is currently being developed.

At the national and sub-national levels, health authorities will tailor their strategies to address current epidemiological trends.