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

The SPRP, which was presented to WHO Member States on August 23, covers the period from September 2024 to February 2025 and requires an estimated US$135 million to support the response. Funding will be allocated to WHO, Member States, and partners, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), community organizations, and researchers. A funding appeal to secure the necessary resources will be launched soon.

Dr. Tedros emphasized the critical need for a unified response, stating, "The mpox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries can be controlled, and can be stopped. Doing so requires a comprehensive and coordinated plan of action between international agencies and national and local partners, civil society, researchers, manufacturers, and our Member States. This SPRP provides that plan, based on the principles of equity, global solidarity, community empowerment, human rights, and coordination across sectors.”

The plan is built on the temporary and standing recommendations issued by the WHO Director-General and focuses on several key areas:

- Comprehensive Surveillance and Response: Implementing strategies for surveillance, prevention, and readiness.

- Research and Medical Countermeasures: Advancing research and ensuring equitable access to diagnostic tests, vaccines, and other medical tools.

- Minimizing Animal-to-Human Transmission: Targeting efforts to reduce the risk of zoonotic transmission.

- Community Empowerment: Encouraging active community participation in outbreak prevention and control.

Strategic vaccination efforts will target high-risk individuals, such as close contacts of recent cases and healthcare workers, to interrupt transmission chains.

At the global level, WHO aims to provide strategic leadership, evidence-based guidance, and ensure access to medical countermeasures for at-risk groups in affected countries. WHO is collaborating with various international and regional partners, including the ACT-Accelerator Principals group, the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response, and the R&D Blueprint for Epidemics.

A virtual scientific conference hosted by WHO's R&D Blueprint, along with Africa CDC, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will take place on August 29-30, 2024, to align mpox research with outbreak control goals.

In Africa, where the need is greatest, WHO’s Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) and Africa CDC will jointly lead the coordination of the mpox response. They have agreed on a "one-plan, one-budget" approach under the Africa Continental Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, which is currently being prepared.

At the national and sub-national levels, health authorities will adapt strategies based on the latest epidemiological trends to ensure an effective and timely response. WHO headquarters and regional offices have established incident management support teams to lead these efforts, significantly increasing staff presence in the most affected areas. (ILKHA)