The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled a global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) to address human-to-human transmission of Mpox. Announced on Monday, the plan spans from September 2024 to February 2025 and requires $135 million in funding. It aims to coordinate global, regional, and national efforts, improve surveillance and response strategies, ensure equitable access to diagnostics and vaccines, mitigate animal-to-human transmission, and empower communities in outbreak control.
The plan follows the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus on August 14. WHO will soon launch a funding appeal to support the plan. It builds on previous recommendations and focuses on enhanced surveillance, prevention, and preparedness. Key aspects include strategic vaccination for high-risk individuals, such as recent case contacts and healthcare workers, and global efforts on leadership, evidence-based guidance, and medical countermeasures for the most vulnerable groups.
“WHO is working with a broad range of international, regional, national and local partners and networks to enhance coordination across key areas of preparedness, readiness and response.
“This includes engagement with the ACT-Accelerator Principals group; the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response; the R and D Blueprint for Epidemics; and the interim Medical Countermeasures Network (i-MCM Net),” it stated.
