“This new smallpox outbreak can be controlled and stopped,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday, during a session with member states, who were asked to work on partnerships with international agencies, civil society, researchers and manufacturers.
The WHO has estimated that around $135 million (€120.5 million) in funding is needed to deal with the “acute phase” of the outbreak over the next six months – an amount that could increase “in light of the increasing needs” – and stop the epidemic of the disease, formerly known as monkeypox, “as quickly as possible”.
The WHO official said the global smallpox response plan and all measures implemented to stop the spread of the disease must respect the principles of “equity, global solidarity, community empowerment, human rights and intersectoral coordination.”
On August 14, the World Health Organization declared the smallpox outbreak in Africa a global health emergency, with confirmed cases among children and adults in more than a dozen countries and a new variant spreading.
The organization has drawn up a specific plan requiring an initial $15 million (€13.6 million) to support surveillance, preparedness and response on the African continent, having already allocated $1.45 million (€1.31 million) from the UN. WHO Emergency Fund.
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