The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new strategic framework aimed at bolstering the prevention and control of mpox globally. The plan is designed to guide health authorities, communities, and other stakeholders in eliminating human-to-human transmission of the disease and reducing animal-to-human virus spillover.
Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), manifests with symptoms such as a painful rash, swollen lymph nodes, and fever. While most individuals recover fully, some experience severe illness. The virus spreads through close, including sexual, contact and has animal reservoirs in parts of Africa, leading to sporadic spillover events.
Two clades of the virus exist: clade I, which is more lethal, and clade II. A significant clade II outbreak began in 2017 and has since spread globally, prompting a Public Health Emergency of International Concern from July 2022 to May 2023. Although the outbreak has largely subsided, low-level transmission persists.
Currently, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) faces a major clade I outbreak, with over 6,500 cases and 345 deaths reported this year, nearly half of which are children under 15.
The WHO’s “Strategic Framework for Enhancing Prevention and Control of Mpox (2024–2027)” aims to curb outbreaks, advance research, improve access to countermeasures, and minimize zoonotic transmission.
