The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan to address human-to-human transmission of Mpox.

This plan follows the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO Director-General on 14 August.

The plan, presented to Member States on Friday, August 23, covers September 2024 to February 2025, with an estimated funding need of USD 135 million. This will support efforts by WHO, Member States, partners including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and other stakeholders. A funding appeal will be announced shortly.

The strategy focuses on robust surveillance, prevention, readiness, and response. It aims to advance research, ensure equitable access to diagnostics and vaccines, minimise animal-to-human transmission, and empower communities in outbreak control.

Vaccination will target high-risk groups, such as recent case contacts and healthcare workers, to interrupt transmission chains.

WHO coordinates with international, regional, and local partners, including 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).

A virtual scientific conference hosted by the WHO R&D Blueprint, Africa CDC, CEPI, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases will take place on 29-30 August 2024 to align research with outbreak control objectives.

WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that the outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring regions can be controlled and halted through a coordinated plan involving all stakeholders. The plan upholds principles of equity, global solidarity, and community empowerment.

WHO has mobilised incident management support teams and is increasing staffing in affected areas. In Africa, WHO AFRO and Africa CDC lead the response with a unified approach to planning and budgeting.

At the national and sub-national levels, health authorities will adapt strategies in response to current epidemiological trends.