COPENHAGEN: A new campaign named "Eliminating mpox: Placing affected populations at the heart of our response" has been launched by the WHO Regional Office for Europe to draw attention to the threat of a sizable monkeypox (mpox) outbreak.
Despite the fact that monkeypox is no longer regarded as a public health emergency of global significance, recent reports from WHO Europe indicate an upsurge in cases, with 17 new infections reported in eight countries across Europe in the four weeks prior to May 4.
The campaign was started on Wednesday in an effort to prevent outbreaks before they start, according to the Xinhua news agency. Potential outbreak triggers include big crowds at spring and summer activities, a lack of testing and vaccination availability, or an inflow of sick people from neighbouring areas.
The most impacted communities should be encouraged to participate in testing and vaccination programmes, with availability and eligibility information made clear.
Other steps include creating thorough vaccination schedules, improving the ability of health professionals to recognise mpox symptoms and provide helpful guidance and care, and designating mpox as a nationally notifiable illness to hasten detection and effective outbreak response.
The high-threat pathogen team leader at WHO Europe, Richard Peabody, emphasised the significance of these precautions. "Self-satisfaction is not an option. In a press release, he stated, "Our most recent mpox strategy brief offers a roadmap for nations to contain and ultimately eradicate the illness in our region.
The campaign also aims to provide a forum for the most vulnerable to express their experiences and views. The WHO's regional director for Europe, Hans Henri P. Kluge, expressed optimism about the campaign's potential impact.
We can eliminate Monkeypox, but we must keep in mind that it is still in circulation. To maintain our trajectory towards complete eradication, we must redouble our collaborative efforts. According to WHO Europe, this endeavour comes in the wake of the effective containment of the largest-ever mpox outbreak in the European region in 2022, which offered insightful information and improved control strategies for the illness.
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