Healthcare Alerts | Infectious Diseases | Mpox

WHO releases draft global Mpox strategic preparedness and response plan 

Time to read: 2 minutes, 53 seconds

26 August 2024, 14:00
Source: WHO Press Release
Contributor: Linda Ravenhill

The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled a global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) aimed at halting human-to-human transmission of Mpox through coordinated international, regional, and national efforts. This initiative follows the WHO Director-General's declaration of a public health emergency of international concern on August 14, 2024. The SPRP is designed to be implemented over six months, from September 2024 to February 2025, and is currently open to input from WHO Member States.

The plan outlines a projected funding requirement of US$135 million, which will support the efforts of WHO, Member States, and key partners, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), communities, and researchers. The WHO is expected to launch a funding appeal shortly to secure the necessary resources.

The SPRP builds on the temporary and standing recommendations previously issued by the WHO Director-General and is centred around several key objectives.

These include implementing comprehensive surveillance, prevention, readiness, and response strategies; advancing research and ensuring equitable access to medical countermeasures such as diagnostic tests and vaccines; reducing animal-to-human transmission; and empowering communities to engage actively in outbreak prevention and control.

A significant component of the plan is focused on strategic vaccination, targeting individuals at the highest risk, such as close contacts of recent cases and healthcare workers, to break transmission chains.

At the global level, the SPRP emphasizes strategic leadership, timely evidence-based guidance, and access to medical countermeasures for the most at-risk populations in affected countries.

The WHO is collaborating with a wide range of international, regional, national, and local partners to enhance coordination across key areas of preparedness, readiness, and response. This includes partnerships with groups like the ACT-Accelerator Principals group, the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response, the R&D Blueprint for Epidemics, and the interim Medical Counter Measures Network (i-MCM Net).

To further align Mpox research with outbreak control goals, the WHO R&D Blueprint, Africa CDC, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases will co-host a virtual scientific conference on August 29-30, 2024.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has emphasised the importance of a coordinated, comprehensive approach involving international agencies, national and local partners, civil society, researchers, and manufacturers. In the African region, where the need is greatest, WHO's Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) will work closely with Africa CDC to lead the response efforts through a unified approach, ensuring a well-coordinated and effective response at all levels. National and sub-national health authorities will tailor their strategies based on evolving epidemiological trends.


Access the Draft Response Plan (Download)

26 August  2024 | WHO | Mpox global strategic preparedness and response plan (PDF)


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