The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced a draft Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) for Mpox, addressing the six-month period from September 2024 to February 2025. This plan emphasizes surveillance, research, equitable access to medical countermeasures, and community empowerment to address this global emergency.
Under the SPRP, the initial six-month operation will focus on controlling acute outbreaks of human-to-human transmission, with an estimated budget of US$135 million for international support. The WHO Director-General declared Mpox a public health emergency of international concern due to the rapid spread and detection of a new clade in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus, poses a serious threat, with two distinct clades contributing to global outbreaks. The WHO advocates for vaccination and public health interventions to combat Mpox, providing guidance on symptoms, transmission, and preventive measures.
The organization stresses the importance of infection prevention and control measures for health workers and urges individuals to follow isolation protocols. By promoting understanding and action against Mpox stigma, discrimination, and racism, the WHO aims to enhance global response efforts.