The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced a global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) to mitigate the human-to-human transmission of Mpox.

This announcement was made in a statement released by WHO on Monday, detailing the extensive framework and strategies required to combat the ongoing Mpox outbreaks worldwide.

According to WHO, the plan will be implemented from September 2024 to February 2025 and will require an estimated 135 million U.S. dollars in funding. It is designed to bolster efforts at the global, regional, and national levels.

The core objectives of the plan are to strengthen surveillance mechanisms, enhance response strategies, ensure equitable access to critical tools like diagnostics and vaccines, and reduce zoonotic transmission (from animals to humans).

Additionally, the plan prioritizes empowering communities in their roles in outbreak control and prevention.

This initiative comes on the heels of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) declaration made by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on August 14.

WHO emphasized that a formal appeal for funding to support the SPRP’s implementation will be issued in the near future.

Building on recommendations made by Dr. Ghebreyesus, the SPRP focuses on a multifaceted approach, integrating comprehensive surveillance systems, proactive prevention measures, and enhanced readiness at all levels.

WHO highlighted the need for a coordinated response, particularly for those most at risk of infection, such as close contacts of confirmed Mpox cases and frontline healthcare workers. Targeted vaccination efforts will be critical to disrupting the transmission chain.

At the global level, WHO aims to provide strategic leadership through timely, evidence-based guidance.

There will be a concerted effort to ensure access to medical countermeasures, such as vaccines and treatments, for the most vulnerable populations in affected countries.

This global initiative will be executed in collaboration with a diverse network of international, regional, and national partners to enhance coordination across key areas of preparedness and response.

Key partners and stakeholders engaged in this effort include the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator Principals group, the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response, the R&D Blueprint for Epidemics, and the interim Medical Countermeasures Network (i-MCM Net).

Through these partnerships, WHO aims to strengthen preparedness, streamline response efforts, and ensure timely access to the necessary resources for managing the Mpox outbreak on a global scale.