WHO needs USD 87.4 million to contain Mpox outbreak

The World Health Organisation needs USD 87.4 million to contain the current outbreak of M-pox following the declaration of a global emergency on August 14.

The amount is to be solicited over the next six months from September 2024 to February 2025.

Mpox, then monkeypox, has been a public health challenge in parts of Africa since 1970 but surged internationally in 2022.

This prompted  WHO to declare it a global health emergency.

WHO said they will work with countries, partners and other stakeholders to implement critical activities outlined in the global strategic preparedness and response plan released on Monday.

The SPRP is a comprehensive framework developed by WHO to guide the global response to Mpox.

The plan emphasises surveillance, research, equitable access to medical countermeasures and community empowerment.

The funds will enable coordination of the response, provide technical assistance, run operations and deliver medical supplies.

The funds will be used across WHO offices.

WHO has called on donors to urgently fund the full extent of the Mpox response to prevent further spread and protect those most at risk.

According to WHO, the SPRP mentioned a need for USD 135 million as the estimated budget for international support to national Mpox responses.

This includes the USD 87.4 million.

During Monday’s launch of the strategy and response plan,

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director general, said the Mpox outbreaks in hard-hit countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring countries can be controlled and stopped.

He said doing so requires a comprehensive and coordinated plan of action.

This is between international agencies, national and local partners, civil society, researchers, manufacturers and member states.

 “This SPRP provides a plan of action, based on the principles of equity, global solidarity, community empowerment, human rights, and coordination across sectors,” Dr Tedros said.

WHO headquarters and regional offices have established incident management support teams to lead preparedness, readiness and response activities.

WHO is significantly scaling up staff in the affected countries.

The WHO Regional Office for Africa in collaboration with Africa Centre for Disease Control will spearhead a joint coordination of Mpox response efforts.

WHO AFRO and Africa CDC have agreed on a one-plan, one-budget approach as part of the Africa Continental Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan.

This is under preparation.

At the national and sub-national levels, health authorities will adapt strategies in response to current epidemiological trends.

Kenya is among the countries in the East African region that confirmed its first case of Mpox four weeks ago.

The case was of a track driver confirmed at the Taita Taveta border while the second was recorded Friday last week from another travelling from Uganda at the Malaba border.

Since the outbreak, Health CS  Deborah Barasa said  42 samples have been submitted to laboratories for Mpox testing, of which 40 tested negative.

In addition, 426,438 people at various entry points across the country have also been screened.

According to the latest Africa CDC figures,  17, 541 Mpox cases and 517 deaths have so far been reported from 13 African countries.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo accounts for 96 per cent of all cases and 97 per cent of all deaths reported in 2024.

It is the epicentre of the current outbreak.