The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled a comprehensive action plan to tackle the ongoing mpox outbreak, emphasizing that it is possible to control and halt the spread of the virus.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the announcement on Friday, revealing that the organization seeks $135 million over the next six months to combat the crisis.
During a briefing to Member States, Tedros highlighted the need for a global, coordinated response to the outbreak, which has spread beyond Africa to Europe and Asia. This announcement comes just over a week after the WHO declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern.
The mpox virus first emerged globally in 2022, with over 100,000 confirmed cases reported since then. While the virus circulates at low levels worldwide, Africa has experienced a dramatic increase in cases. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the outbreak is most severe, more than 16,000 suspected cases and 575 deaths have been reported this year alone.
Tedros identified the rapid spread of a new strain of the virus, clade 1b, as a key factor in the recent emergency declaration. In the past month, cases of this strain have been detected in neighboring countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, as well as in Thailand and Sweden.
In response, the WHO has developed the Global Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SRSP), which aims to stop human-to-human transmission through a coordinated effort at global, regional, and national levels. The SRSP includes comprehensive surveillance, response strategies, and efforts to ensure equitable access to medical countermeasures.
“Our initial estimates suggest that approximately $135 million will be needed for the acute phase of the outbreak over the next six months,” Tedros stated. A dedicated funding appeal will be released early next week to support this effort.
The plan also emphasizes the importance of minimizing zoonotic transmission, empowering communities, and ensuring global solidarity and equity in the response. WHO is collaborating with various international, regional, and local partners to enhance coordination and response activities.
Regional offices, particularly in Africa, are setting up Incident Management Support Teams (IMSTs) and increasing staffing in affected countries to lead preparedness and response efforts. WHO has already allocated roughly $1.5 million from its emergency contingency fund, with further allocations anticipated as donor funds are secured.
Tedros affirmed that the WHO will coordinate the global response, working closely with affected countries to prevent transmission, treat those infected, and save lives.
