Vaccination will be a critical element of the response to this outbreak,
To deal with this crisis, the government has put in place a response structured around three main axes,
According to the latest epidemiological report, our country has recorded 15,664 potential cases and 548 deaths since the beginning of the year,
This clade Ib is spreading predominantly through intimate and sexual contact and so could well spread rapidly to areas around the world,
However, planning is underway to prepare for any cases that we might see in the UK
While there is (a) cross-border spread of a potentially more severe mpox Clade I in parts of Central and East Africa, the outbreak has thus far remained within the African continent, with no reported cases of Clade I exported out of the African continent,
We have informed all medical practitioners and healthcare institutions to be vigilant in detecting and reporting all mpox cases, including those suspected of Clade I infections,
This period has taken a considerable toll on my family, as it has for others in our community,
WHO is on the ground, working with the affected countries, and others at risk, through our country and regional offices...For example, we are providing machines to analyse blood samples and confirm cases of mpox. We're supporting laboratories to sequence viral samples, we're on the ground supporting case investigation, contact tracing, risk communication and community engagement,
We have released USD 1.45 million from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies, and we plan to release more in the coming days. We are also appealing to donors to fund the rest of the response plan,
WHO is committed in the days and weeks ahead to coordinate the global response, working closely with each of the affected countries, and leveraging our on-the-ground presence, to prevent transmission, treat those infected, and save lives. I thank the Emergency Committee for its work and advice,
We're training health workers and supporting clinicians to provide appropriate care; We're supporting countries to access vaccines and develop the strategies to roll them out; And much more,
The emergence last year and rapid spread of clade 1b in DRC, which appears to be spreading mainly through sexual networks, and its detection in countries neighbouring DRC is especially concerning,
We can stop transmission of mpox with a concerted effort."
Mpox is not a new disease, so there are established diagnostic and treatment protocols for it and there is some experience in dealing with the disease,
Transmission usually occurs when there is close skin-to-skin contact with someone who may have been infected (including sexual contact),
While the reported population does appear to be disproportionately men and men who self-identify as men having sex with men, there is no specific advice for that community over and above the general advice around not coming into contact with persons who are demonstrating the signs of infection,
In unusual circumstances in severe infections affecting the eye or brain (these would be uncommon), there could possibly be some post-infection complications,
If you do get it, the major problem is the inconvenience of being quarantined for 21 days,
They should call the clinic ahead of their visit so that special precautions can be taken to protect others,