PAHO Establishes Roadmap for Monkeypox Response

The Board of Directors of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) convened a session with its member states to rule on the current monkeypox outbreak in the region, analyzing equitable access to the vaccine for the most at-risk populations.

There have been over 10,000 reported cases of monkeypox in the Americas spanning 24 countries since the beginning of the outbreak in May 2022. Member states are currently working with PAHO to implement guidelines that consider risk communication, early detection, surveillance, treatment isolation and contact tracing.

On July 23, 2022, WHO declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), which called for collaboration between countries and organizations to prevent the virus from spreading and, eventually, turning into a global pandemic, as reported by MBN.

“The declaration of a public health emergency of international concern came with detailed recommendations both for countries and territories that have not detected any cases and for those that already have imported cases or reported transmission in their communities” said Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, Director, PAHO.

The doctor highlighted that, at the moment, there is only one third-generation simian smallpox vaccine around the globe, which is only produced by one business. However, the organization has already opened communication to negotiate a shipment of vaccines to the region. “Post- or pre-exposure vaccination could be an adjunct to the other measures,” added Etienne.

PAHO asked for a coordinated response and support from member states to take the necessary steps to gain access to the vaccine through the organization’s Revolving Fund, while also requesting the recognition of PAHO and this Revolving Fund as the appropriate strategic regional technical mechanism to provide equitable access to the simian small pox vaccine, as well as other vaccines.

PAHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee agree that vaccination for specific groups, as well as close contacts of confirmed cases should be prioritized to maximize the impact of the limited supply of vaccines.

In Mexico, Deputy Minister of Health Promotion Hugo López-Gatell highlighted that even though more cases are expected, the disease will not spread extensively. On July 26, the country reached 60 positive cases, with no deaths reported and seven patients hospitalized, all of them recovering in a 21-day period. “It is very important to highlight that this is a disease with a very low mortality rate. Of the almost 17,000 cases worldwide, there have only been five deaths. This is not a disease that is expected to spread extensively” said López-Gatell, as reported by MBN.