WHO calls for $135M to combat mpox outbreak

The World Health Organization called for global concerted action to control a new mpox outbreak, unveiling a response plan that will require at least $135 million over the next six months.
“Let me be clear: this new mpox outbreak can be controlled and can be stopped,” Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a speech to WHO member states on Friday.
The WHO declared a global health emergency on Aug. 14 following the outbreak of mpox in Africa. Sweden was the first country to report a case of mpox in Europe this month, with Thailand now the first Asian country to confirm an infection.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has already said that it needs 10 million vaccines to control the outbreak. EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides on Thursday asked EU countries to tell her how many mpox jabs they planned to donate by the close of this month.
The WHO plans to launch a dedicated funding appeal to counter the mpox outbreak next week.
“To fund this work and to stop the outbreak as quickly as possible, our initial estimates are that the [Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan] requires approximately $135 million over the next six months for the acute phase of the outbreak,” said Ghebreyesus.
“That amount will likely increase as we update the plan in light of growing needs,” he said.