Mpox Preparedness and Response 2024: Position Statement of The Disaster Management Experts Club

Abstract

Statement of intent

The worldwide re-emergence of mpox underlines the pressing necessity for a strengthened, coordinated, international strategy to manage and avert future outbreaks. The Disaster Management Experts Club promotes an approach that emphasises strong surveillance systems, healthcare readiness, and global cooperation to avert dissemination of thisvirus. Although mpox has demonstrated a comparatively mild clinical presentation in numerous instances, especially relative to its initial outbreaks, its capacity for rapid transmission, particularly among immunocompromised individuals, necessitates a proactive global response.

The objective of this position is to reduce the current threats associated with mpox and prevent potential future pandemics. Through this, the Disaster Management Experts Club seeks to advocate:

• Augmented surveillance and proactive detection: Surveillance systems are crucial for identifying cases, monitoring transmission dynamics, and detecting potential mutations. The need to augment early warning systems encompasses not only case identification, but also indirect indicators such as absenteeism from employment or education.
• Enhancedresilience of healthcare systems: A resilient healthcare infrastructure that facilitates early case detection, isolation, and infection control is essential. The smooth transition of patients through primary healthcare, prehospital care, and hospital triage is vital for effectivempox Infection control measures, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and rigorous environmental cleaning protocols, must be intensified to reduce nosocomial infections, as evidenced in previous outbreaks.
• International collaboration: A proactive coalition can limit the dissemination of mpox, especially considering its zoonotic origins and cross-border transmission. Cooperative initiatives among public health organisations, government entities, and healthcare providers are essential to the establishment of a comprehensive database to monitor and analyse mpox cases across various regions.

Abstract

The global emergence of mpox, previously known as monkeypox, traces back to the mid-19th century. The 2022 outbreak represented a significant escalation, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a public health emergency. The imminent risk of a pandemic requires a proactive strategy for preparedness and mitigation. Despite human-to-human transmission, the clinical manifestations of mpox in the recent outbreak were notably milder, frequently presenting as subclinical prodromes and benign skin lesions resembling those of common sexually transmitted infections. Although complications were rare, they included severe outcomes such as pneumonia, sepsis, and neurological issues, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.

Effective management of the outbreak required robust surveillance systems for early case detection, trend monitoring, and contact tracing. The smooth flow of patients through primary healthcare, prehospital care, and hospital triage was critical for early detection and isolation of suspected cases. Infection control measures, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and environmental cleaning protocols, played a role in reducing nosocomial infection.

This article highlights the importance of training healthcare providers, fostering collaboration across health sectors, and developing disaster preparedness plans to respond effectively to future outbreaks. It also explores the role of individual and mass vaccination, particularly among high-risk populations. This publication serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding the mpox pandemic and the collaborative efforts of the Disaster Management Experts Club in tackling this public health challenge.