GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced a plan to control and stop the current monkeypox (mpox) outbreak, requiring $135 million over the next six months for a response plan. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasised the need for a coordinated international response as cases spread from Africa to Europe and Asia.

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Since the global outbreak began in 2022, over 100,000 cases have been confirmed. While the virus circulates at low levels globally, Africa has seen a significant surge, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where more than 16,000 suspected cases and 575 deaths have been reported this year.

Two strains of the mpox virus are driving the outbreak in DRC. The rapid spread of a new strain, clade 1b, prompted Tedros to declare mpox a global public health emergency on 14th August. This strain has now spread to four countries neighbouring DRC—Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda—and has also been reported in Thailand and Sweden.

In response, WHO and its partners have developed the Global Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SRSP) to stop human-to-human transmission through coordinated efforts at global, regional, and national levels. The plan focuses on comprehensive surveillance, response strategies, and ensuring equitable access to medical countermeasures.

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Tedros mentioned that the initial $135 million estimate for the plan’s acute phase might increase as the situation evolves. WHO will launch a funding appeal early next week to support these efforts.