The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended on Monday that countries affected by the mpox virus (commonly known as monkeypox) initiate vaccination programs, particularly in regions where cases have been reported.
The mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), caused by the clade 1b strain and also impacting Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, prompted the WHO to declare a public health emergency on August 14. This is the highest level of health alert issued by the organization.
The DRC is expected to receive its first doses of the mpox vaccine as early as next week, following pledges of support from the United States and Japan, said the country’s Health Minister on Monday.
The WHO made a similar decision in 2022 when an outbreak, caused by the clade 2b strain, spread globally. Although the alert was lifted in May 2023, the WHO had issued public recommendations to all countries, urging them to prepare national response plans or maintain surveillance.
These recommendations remain in effect, but on Monday, the WHO provided additional guidance specifically for “countries experiencing an epidemic surge, particularly, but not exclusively, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda,” the organization announced.
The WHO advises these countries to initiate vaccination programs in areas where cases are emerging, targeting high-risk groups such as children, healthcare workers, and nursing staff.
Regarding international travel, the WHO recommends “establishing or strengthening cross-border cooperation agreements on surveillance and management of suspected mpox cases, as well as sharing information with travelers and transport companies.”
However, the WHO emphasizes that this should be done “without imposing general travel and trade restrictions that would have an unnecessary impact on local, regional, or national economies.”
The WHO also calls on affected countries to develop or strengthen coordination mechanisms for emergency interventions at the national and local levels, enhance disease surveillance and detection capabilities, differentiate between virus variants, and report cases to the WHO “promptly and on a weekly basis.”
Additionally, the WHO urges these countries to improve research, combat the stigma associated with the disease, and enhance the skills of healthcare personnel regarding mpox, providing them with personal protective equipment.
A total of 18,737 suspected or confirmed mpox cases have been reported in Africa since the beginning of the year, according to the Africa CDC, the disease control agency of the African Union.
