The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday launched a six-month global strategic preparedness and response plan to stop the deadly outbreak of Mpox, declared as a public health emergency.
The plan aims to curtail
"human-to-human transmission of mpox through coordinated global, regional,
and national efforts".
Earlier this month, the
global health agency had declared Mpox a public health emergency of
international concern.
The plan spans the
six-month starting September 2024-February 2025, and envisions a $135 million
funding, the WHO said.
It focuses on
"implementing comprehensive surveillance, prevention, readiness and
response strategies; advancing research and equitable access to medical
countermeasures like diagnostic tests and vaccines; minimising animal-to-human
transmission; and empowering communities to actively participate in outbreak
prevention and control."
The plan also includes
strategic vaccination efforts for people at highest risk, to interrupt
transmission chains. This includes close contacts of recent cases and
healthcare workers.
Further, the WHO
outlined that at the global level, the emphasis is on leadership, timely
evidence-based guidance, and access to medical countermeasures for the most
at-risk groups in affected countries.
"The Mpox outbreaks
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries can be
controlled, and can be stopped," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO
Director-General.
He said that to contain
the deadly disease, Ghebreyesus called for a comprehensive and coordinated plan
of action between international agencies and national and local partners, civil
society, researchers and manufacturers, and our Member States.
"The new plan is
based on the principles of equity, global solidarity, community empowerment,
human rights, and coordination across sectors," the WHO Chief said.
Mpox, a viral zoological
disease, is caused by the Monkeypox virus. The current outbreak -- in 14
African countries -- is being driven majorly by the more virulent and deadly
Clade Ib.
Outside of Africa, Clade
Ib is spread to Sweden and Thailand.
No comments:
Post a Comment