GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a significant financial commitment of $135 million over the next six months to halt the spread of the mpox virus, which has reached critical levels across continents.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the recent spike in cases necessitates a robust and unified global effort to manage the disease. Tedros emphasized the urgency during a briefing held shortly after declaring mpox a public health emergency of international concern. The virus, first identified in 2022, has since resulted in over 100,000 confirmed cases, with a marked increase and geographic spread in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The situation in the DRC, the epicenter of the outbreak, has been exacerbated by the emergence of a new strain of the virus, clade 1b, which has significantly contributed to the rapid increase in cases. Recent reports also show the virus spreading to countries that had previously not reported cases, such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and even as far as Thailand and Sweden.
In response, the WHO has developed the Global Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP), aimed at curtailing human-to-human transmission through coordinated international strategies. This plan includes comprehensive surveillance, boosting research, and ensuring equitable access to necessary medical countermeasures.
Tedros outlined the organization’s strategic approach, stressing that success relies on international collaboration, respect for human rights, and community involvement. He announced that approximately $1.5 million has already been allocated from WHO’s contingency fund for emergencies to support immediate response activities, with more funds expected to be mobilized as part of a dedicated funding appeal next week.
Moreover, the WHO’s regional offices, particularly the African Regional Office in collaboration with the African CDC, will play a pivotal role in orchestrating the response efforts across the continent, where the impact of the outbreak is most severe.