The World Health Organization (WHO) has directed health authorities worldwide to manage the Mpox outbreak using established guidelines, and two types of vaccines have been approved for use. The disease, which has recently spread to Sweden and the UK, has prompted a coordinated international response. Dr Sally-Ann Ohene, WHO’s Country Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer, confirmed in an exclusive interview with 3news that “Currently, two types of vaccines have received the green light to be used, and so countries must quickly work on the accreditations for their use in their locality.
I think DR Congo has already started receiving donations of vaccines.” Dr Ohene noted that the WHO is working on updated guidelines to enhance surveillance and collaboration efforts in managing the outbreak. She emphasized that the current guidelines remain in place until the new ones are issued.
“The WHO is actively working on updating the guidelines. So, the countries currently use existing guidelines for their local response efforts. The declaration means the issue has reached a stage of severity, so collective steps and efforts need to be made to contain it.
We do not want another emergency like COVID-19, which you know the effect,” Dr Ohene said. The WHO is expected to release updated guidelines soon, focusing on strengthening coordination, enhancing laboratory-based surveillance, increasing awareness, and ensuring the provision of resources for early detection. The declaration of Mpox as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) follows a surge in cases, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other African nations.
Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the declaration based on recommendations from an International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee of independent experts. The committee, which reviewed data from WHO and affected countries, indicated that the Mpox upsurge poses a significant risk of spreading further across Africa and potentially beyond.
While Ghana has not reported any Mpox cases this year, it is among 19 countries at risk. The WHO emphasizes that, given the uncertainty about the duration of the outbreak, efforts are concentrated on improving surveillance and collaboration to enable early detection and response..
