Copenhagen, May 17, 2023
A year after the largest outbreak of mpox (monkey pox), the WHO European Region – which covers 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia – is celebrating success in controlling the spread of the disease as the number of cases continues to decline. During the early months of the outbreak, the European Region recorded the vast majority of cases globally. But strategic collaboration between health authorities and the hardest-hit populations – including rapid risk communication and community engagement, as well as a targeted mpox vaccination campaign in some of the hardest-hit countries – has helped bring down the number of cases rapidly, with virtually no cases reported, in a relatively short time.
WHO/Europe is now calling for vigilance, as there are fears that cases of mpox could reappear in spring and summer. Anticipating this, and coinciding with the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, WHO/Europe is launching a new mpox campaign today, to remind people that although it is no longer defined as an emergency of public health of international concern, mpox is not gone; anyone can be infected; and that we have and must use the necessary tools to better control it and eventually eliminate it.
The new mpox campaign builds on the European Region’s year-long experience in responding to this outbreak, including growing evidence on the disease and measures to control it. Countryside :
- Highlight what everyone – including the most affected communities, health authorities, health workers and event organizers – can do to help control mpox and ultimately eradicate it.
- Provide a platform for particularly vulnerable communities, including underserved populations, to speak about their experiences, needs and ideas related to mpox.
- Highlight the vital contribution of organizations representing gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, trans people, sex workers and migrants. These organizations have played and continue to play a crucial role in the fight against mpox. Some of their work and successes are illustrated in a compendium – a collection of case studies – launched as part of the campaign.
The campaign is timely. According to the latest data, at least 17 more people contracted mpox in eight countries in the WHO European Region in the four weeks to 4 May 2023. Although these numbers remain low, as does the risk to For the entire population, it is essential that health authorities continue to monitor and respond to mpox outbreaks. A possible increase in mpox cases in the coming months could be triggered by:
- people gather for spring and summer events, including Pride-related festivals, given the likelihood of sexual activity;
- a lack of access to testing and vaccines, particularly for underserved populations like sex workers, trans people, migrants, and the homeless;
- people infected with mpox arriving from countries outside Europe and Central Asia.
“Our efforts to control the mpox epidemic appear to have been successful, and that is great news. I commend health authorities and the most affected communities for their strong partnership in controlling mpox, including vaccine rollout, community outreach and actions to safeguard the health of individuals and the broader community, as well as as concerted efforts not to stigmatize those affected,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “Elimination is within our reach, but let’s not forget that mpox is still circulating, as we have seen recently in our region. Mpox cases could resurface this spring and summer with the start of festivals and events – where sexual activity could take place. Some countries in the European Region are still experiencing persistently low levels of transmission. Beyond our region, localized peaks remind us that this epidemic is far from over. Let’s renew our collective efforts to ensure we stay on track towards eventual elimination – it can be done.
A set of new publications from WHO/Europe – including an mpox policy guidance note, a compendium of case studies and a risk communication toolkit – outlines recommended actions that communities, authorities and healthcare providers as well as event organizers can take (see below).
“Mpox should continue to be a major concern for health authorities and the most affected communities in the WHO European Region,” said Dr Richard Pebody, head of the high-risk pathogens team at WHO /Europe. “Cases could increase again this year. And even if we’re lucky and it doesn’t happen, the mpox could start again the following year. We simply cannot rest on our laurels. The latest WHO/Europe policy brief on mpox offers countries a roadmap on how to control and ultimately eliminate the disease in our region in the long term.
“I’m worried that mpox could come back, you know, the sequel, but I hope we’ve learned a lot and we’ve shown that we can come together as a community and really protect ourselves,” said Martin Joseph, a broadcaster based in the UK and host of a podcast on mpox. “As someone who has experienced mpox, it was one of the most harrowing and life-changing experiences I’ve had from a mental health perspective, and it really hit me hard and I had to do a lot of work since then to examine my life and look at everything that led to this point.
“It is important that the most affected groups – mainly gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men – as well as health authorities and healthcare providers remain on alert,” concluded the Dr. Kluge. “As we celebrate diversity and inclusion on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, as well as the fast-approaching Pride, let us also remember that we still have a long way to go to eradicate shame and stigma related to sexual health. . It is essential that we normalize talking about seemingly sensitive or uncomfortable topics for the sake of our health and well-being. Let’s not let our success in controlling mpox over the past year be overshadowed by another wave of infections this spring and summer. To be informed; protect yourself and others; and if you can, get vaccinated.
Key recommendations for controlling and eliminating mpox
For health authorities:
- Promote and bring testing and vaccination closer to the most affected communities, with transparent information on availability and eligibility criteria. For example, offer tests and vaccinations at a sexual health clinic or at the premises of a community organization.
- Reach underserved groups (trans people, sex workers, men who have sex with men, including those who are also migrants or refugees, as well as young people, homeless people and people living in rural areas) with health advice, testing and vaccinations.
- Develop vaccination plans.
- Strengthen the skills of health workers to be able to identify signs of mpox and provide advice and care.
- Declare mpox as a nationally notifiable disease to detect mpox early, respond effectively to outbreaks and allocate resources where they are most needed.
- Integrate the mpox response into national sexual health programs.
For the most affected communities in particular – gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men; trans and gender diverse people; and sex workers:
- Stay informed about mpox by accessing trusted sources of information and advice.
- Check yourself regularly for symptoms. If in doubt, get tested. If you experience symptoms of mpox, take a break from sexual activities until you are better and talk to your partners about your symptoms. The most common symptoms are a progressive rash and blister-like lesions, which can appear anywhere on the body.
- Find out where to access care.
- If vaccination is available, get vaccinated. Vaccination provides an extra layer of protection and can reduce the severity of the disease – alongside other preventative measures.
- Continue to protect yourself and others, even after being vaccinated.
For organizers of mass gatherings:
- Make mpox information available before, during and after an event.
- Extend mpox information and advice to side events (i.e. nightclubs, bars and the like) and businesses where sex may take place on site (i.e. saunas and sex clubs).
- Share local information about where to get tested and where to get vaccinated (if vaccines are available).
- Encourage people who develop symptoms of mpox or are close contacts to skip the event and get their tickets refunded, ensuring a ticket refund policy is in place.
- Consider offering spaces to community organizations working with key affected populations and support their communications, for example by adding information about their services to your website and social media.
