Mpox research and innovation – aligning research response with outbreak goals – World Health Organization (WHO)

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Globally, the multi-country outbreak of mpox has led to 116 countries and territories in all WHO regions reporting 99 176 confirmed cases and 208 deaths (CFR 0.2%) between May 2022 and June 2024. The situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, linked to Clade I MPXV, has continued to evolve with cases rising steadily since late 2022 and has now become particularly concerning. This increased case reporting is driven by two concomitant outbreaks, including (1) outbreaks in historically endemic parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, affecting primarily children, and (2) a rapidly expanding outbreak of a new strain of MPXV clade I named clade Ib which like IIb appears to be spreading predominantly through sexual networks, expanding geographically in eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and now also affecting neighbouring countries.

On 13 August 2024, Africa CDCs declared Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. This declaration aims to galvanize political leadership and engagement among AU Heads of State and Government, facilitating the rapid mobilisation of essential financial and technical resources to control the outbreak.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), having concurred with the advice offered by the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR or Regulations) Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of mpox 2024 during its first meeting, held on 14 August 2024, has determined, on the same date, that the ongoing upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a growing number of countries in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the provisions of the International Health Regulations.

This Research Response Conference is a pivotal gathering aimed at addressing the urgent global challenge posed by the mpox virus. This conference is designed to foster a collaborative and open environment where researchers, public health officials, and stakeholders from affected countries can take the lead in shaping the research agenda.

Our collective goal is to align research efforts with outbreak response strategies to effectively mitigate morbidity and mortality, halt transmission, and advance the development of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics to prevent future outbreaks.

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Mpox research and innovation - aligning research response with outbreak goals - World Health Organization (WHO)