On 14th August, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international state of emergency in response to an alarming resurgence of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox). This resurgence, primarily concentrated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and multiple African nations, has rapidly turned into a widespread epidemic causing high levels of concern due to its swift propagation and mounting infection rates. The WHO’s declaration is an emphatic indication of the imperative need to address this dire public health menace, and summons immediate global action to halt any further transmission, both on an African and global scale.
The alarming rise of mpox cases in DRC and neighboring nations has led WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to label the situation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This label is only used for pressing health hazards that pose potential worldwide consequences. This particular status was assigned following the meticulous observations of an independent emergency committee. This committee exhaustively evaluated outbreak information and expressed major concerns about the virus’s capacity to extend further across Africa and beyond.
To combat the resurgence and aid in preventing further spread, The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has launched a comprehensive Mpox Playbook. This crucial guide aims to provide healthcare workers, infection prevention professionals, and public health authorities with effective strategies to manage and control the outbreak. The playbook encapsulates the best methods, resources, and strategies for inhibiting mpox transmission across healthcare settings and communities. It also establishes protocols for overseeing vaccine distribution, tracking cases, and proper communication during outbreaks.
The WHO, along with other global partners, is funneling resources to contain the outbreak. Effort is being put to increase vaccine access, particularly in lower-income countries, through the Emergency Use Listing process. This process allows for urgent distribution of vaccines to regions pending regulatory approval. Alongside coordinated vaccine donations, emergency funding has been released to support surveillance and containment strategies. Despite this, continual international support is sought to curb the ongoing crisis.
This article also explores the complex infection prevention challenges in the wake of the 2024 outbreaks and the role of innovative technologies, such as UV-C disinfection, in combatting these challenges. Other critical issues covered include the US H5N1 outbreak, the ineffectiveness of routine lab tests in diagnosing long COVID as revealed in a recent NIH study, and the subtle intricacies of maintaining team morale during financial uncertainty and potential layoffs.