United States: Today, the White House held an important meeting to tackle the rising threat of “clade I” mpox. This strain of the virus has recently appeared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other countries that had not seen mpox before. The meeting included leaders from the National Security Council, the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy, federal agencies, public health partners, and community organizations.
The Biden-Harris Administration is focusing on both global and domestic responses to mpox. Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer and Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall spoke about the need to build on what was learned from the 2022 mpox outbreak. Dr. Sherwood-Randall stressed the importance of working with community groups, researchers, and international partners to share information, detect cases early, and deploy vaccines quickly.
Jon Finer emphasized the crucial role of the U.S. in leading global health efforts. He noted that actions taken now could significantly impact the worldwide response to clade I mpox. Strengthening international partnerships and supporting global health organizations are key to keeping both Americans and people around the world safe.
The meeting reinforced the U.S.’s commitment to leading the fight against mpox and improving readiness for potential cases. Although no clade I cases have been reported in the U.S. yet, officials are preparing to respond swiftly if needed. Meanwhile, clade IIb mpox, which caused the 2022 outbreak, continues to circulate at low levels.
