The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently released a new framework aimed at guiding health authorities, communities, and other stakeholders in preventing and controlling mpox outbreaks. Mpox is a viral illness that results from the monkeypox virus (MPXV) and can cause symptoms such as a painful rash, swollen lymph nodes, and fever. While most people recover from mpox without any issues, some may develop severe complications.
The virus is transmitted from person to person through close contact, including sexual contact, and animal reservoirs exist in east, central, and west Africa where spillovers from animals to humans can occasionally occur. There are two clades of the virus: clade I and clade II. Clade I outbreaks are more deadly than clade II outbreaks. A major outbreak of clade II mpox began in 2017 and has since spread globally. Although it was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern between July 2022 and May 2023, cases and deaths continue to be reported worldwide, indicating ongoing low-level transmission.
Currently, there is also a significant outbreak of clade I mpox occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Over 6500 cases have been reported this year alone, with almost half of them occurring in children under the age of 15. This highlights the need for a comprehensive strategy to control these outbreaks while also advancing research on mpox and improving access to countermeasures.
The Strategic framework for enhancing prevention and control of mpox (2024–2027) provides health authorities, communities, and stakeholders with a roadmap for controlling mpox outbreaks worldwide while also advancing research on the disease and improving access to countermeasures. This framework will help minimize zoonotic transmission while ensuring that those affected by mpox receive appropriate care and support during their recovery process.
