WHO Launches $135 Million Plan to Combat Mpox Outbreaks in Africa

by Pooja Chauhan · 26/08/2024

The World Health Organization has launched a six-month, $135 million plan to curb mpox outbreaks, focusing on staffing, surveillance, and vaccine distribution in Africa.

Bollywood Fever: The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a six-month plan to address the ongoing mpox outbreaks, particularly in African countries where the virus has hit hardest.

The plan, which runs from September through February 2024, requires $135 million in funding and aims to strengthen staffing, surveillance, prevention, and response strategies in affected regions.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, “The mpox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries can be controlled, and can be stopped.”

Second Death from Mpox Confirmed in South Africa This Week

The plan also focuses on improving equitable access to vaccines, which is particularly crucial for African countries that have been severely impacted by the outbreak.

As part of this effort, Germany has pledged to donate 100,000 doses of the mpox vaccine from its military stockpiles to affected countries.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo remains the most affected, with over 1,000 new cases reported in a single week last Tuesday.

According to the African Centers for Disease Control, more than 21,300 suspected or confirmed cases and 590 deaths have been reported across 12 African countries this year.

Mpox, a virus related to smallpox, generally causes milder symptoms like fever, chills, and body aches but can lead to more serious complications, including lesions on the face, hands, chest, and genitals. It primarily spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact.

With WHO’s increased focus on these affected regions, the organization hopes to curb the spread of mpox and provide much-needed resources to those at the forefront of the outbreak.