The World Health Organization (WHO) has initiated a comprehensive six-month plan to address the ongoing outbreaks of mpox transmission in African countries. The plan, set to run from September through February next year, aims to enhance surveillance, prevention, and response strategies to curb the spread of the disease. WHO estimates that the implementation of this plan will require $135 million in funding.
WHO Director-General emphasized that the mpox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries can be controlled and halted with concerted efforts. The agency is intensifying its presence by increasing staffing levels in the affected regions.
Germany has also stepped in to support the affected countries by donating 100,000 doses of mpox vaccine from its military reserves. This assistance comes at a critical time as Congo, the most severely impacted nation, reported over 1,000 new cases of mpox in a single week.
The African Centers for Disease Control has reported a total of more than 21,300 suspected or confirmed cases of mpox across 12 African countries, resulting in 590 deaths so far this year. Mpox, a virus related to smallpox, typically manifests with symptoms such as fever, chills, and body aches. The disease primarily spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, including sexual intercourse, and can lead to the development of lesions on various parts of the body in severe cases.
