Responses to mpox clade 1b emergency

21 August 2024. Related: mpox (monkeypox).

Simon Collins, HIV i-Base

The following webinars are planned as part of the response to the mpox clade 1b outbreak.

Registration details are included as links.

WHO announcement of new global emergency

ECDC/EACS mpox webinars

Continuing an ongoing series of webinar updates that that first set up to respond to the 2022 outbreak.

21 August 2024 – Wednesday at 15:00 (CET).
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/risk-assessment-mpox-epidemic-monkeypox-virus-clade-i-africa

Microsoft Teams launch.

If you have any suggestions for speakers or topics to be raised in the coming weeks, feel free to write to Teymur (teymur.noori@ecdc.europa.eu), Esteban (ESTEBANM@clinic.cat) and Sanjay (s.bhagani@nhs.net).

UK practical responses: via BASHH bitesize webinars

Members of BHIVA are able to join BASHH webinars for the period of the mpox response in 2024.

This week’s session will be held on Wednesday 28 August 2024 at 17:00–18:00 UK time online via Zoom.

Registration.

BHIVA/BASHH joint statement (23 August 2024)

On 23 August 2024 BHIVA/BASHH updated this joint statement from 15 August.

BHIVA/BASHH joint statement on the emergence of the new clade 1b mpox variant.

UKHSA guidance on clade 1 mpox

WHO mpox Research and Innovation

Aligning Research Response with Outbreak Goals – Scientific conference.
Hybrid meeting. R&D Blueprint team for Epidemics.
29–30 August 2024 (from 1:00 pm till 6:00 pm, CET)

Zoom link/Registration:
https://who.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YcYZItcJQrqUzQFLC1THWw

Live stream link:
https://player.4am.ch/who/20240829_MpoxMC/index.html

Globally, the multi-country outbreak of mpox has led to 116 countries and territories in all WHO regions reporting 99,176 confirmed cases and 208 deaths (CFR 0.2%) between May 2022 and June 2024.

The situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, linked to Clade I MPXV, has continued to evolve with cases rising steadily since late 2022 and has now become particularly concerning. This increased case reporting is driven by two concomitant outbreaks, including (1) outbreaks in historically endemic parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, affecting primarily children, and (2) a rapidly expanding outbreak of a new strain of MPXV clade I – named clade Ib – which like IIb  appears to be spreading predominantly through sexual networks, expanding geographically in eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and now also affecting neighbouring countries.

On August 13, 2014, Africa CDC’s declared Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. This declaration aims to galvanize political leadership and engagement among AU Heads of State and Government, facilitating the rapid mobilisation of essential financial and technical resources to control the outbreak.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), having concurred with the advice offered by the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR or Regulations) Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of mpox 2024 during its first meeting, held on 14 August 2024, has determined, on the same date, that the ongoing upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a growing number of countries in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the provisions of the International Health Regulations.

This Research Response Conference is a pivotal gathering aimed at addressing the urgent global challenge posed by the mpox virus. This conference is designed to foster a collaborative and open environment where researchers, public health officials, and stakeholders from affected countries can take the lead in shaping the research agenda.

Our collective goal is to align research efforts with outbreak response strategies to effectively mitigate morbidity and mortality, halt transmission, and advance the development of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics to prevent future outbreaks.

OBJECTIVES

• Review Current Disease Transmission Dynamics and Disease Surveillance
• Assess Therapeutics, Diagnostics, and Vaccines
• Explore Novel Evaluation Approaches for MCMs
• Incorporate Good Participatory Practices
• Enhance Scientific and Ethical Capacity
• Review Regulatory and Ethics Frameworks
• Identify Research Priorities and Opportunities
• Ensure coordination of Studies in Africa
• Promote Multi-Country Trial Collaboration

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

1. Development of an emergency mpox research response: Create a foundational document to guide the development of an mpox Research Response Agenda & Implementation Roadmap. This document will enumerate knowledge gaps information needed to end this epidemic, and identify opportunities for research, regulatory, and ethical convergence, while outlining priority research areas for this outbreak and for the African continent.
2. Enhanced Collaboration and Partnerships: Outline approaches to further facilitate continental and international collaboration and partnerships focused on the research and development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics related to mpox.
3. Key Steps and Timelines: Provide an outline of essential steps and timelines to address the identified research gaps and opportunities, ensuring a structured approach to advancing the research agenda.

General media coverage

Nature. Mpox is spreading rapidly. Here are the questions researchers are racing to answer. (28 August 2024)
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02793-9