The EU’s preparedness with regard to the mpox epidemic caused by monkeypox virus clade I

Subject: The EU’s preparedness with regard to the mpox epidemic caused by monkeypox virus clade I

The World Health Organization has declared the current mpox epidemic caused by monkeypox virus clade I a ‘public health emergency of international concern’. Reports indicate that children account for more than 70 % of mpox cases and 85 % of mpox deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Solidarity cooperation by Member States and preparedness efforts by the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) have aided the mobilisation of vaccines to Africa.

To date, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has reported that monkeypox virus clade I presents a low risk to Europe’s general population. Nevertheless, irrespective of which clade is causing the current epidemic, it is still of concern to European citizens because mpox cases are increasing in the Member States. It is therefore imperative that the EU ensure coordinated and effective preparedness.

Given its role in guiding health policy and crisis management, can the Commission answer the following:

1. What specific strategies is the Commission adopting to enhance preparedness across the Member States in terms of public health coordination and cross-border cooperation?

2. How are the Member States’ health authorities preparing to counter the potential threat, also given the increase in domestic cases?

3. What is the current supply of vaccines in the EU, and how is HERA ensuring preparedness to mobilise vaccines in the Member States?

Submitted: 6.9.2024

Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission (18 October 2024)

The Commission and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) are in contact 24/7 with EU/European Economic Area (EEA) countries’ public health authorities via the EU’s Early Warning and Response System (EWRS).

Any confirmed case of MPXV clade I is immediately notified through the EWRS (1). Currently, there is only 1 confirmed case in EU/EEA countries, without onward transmission. Compared to the 2022 outbreak, Mpox cases in EU/EEA countries remain at a low level (2).

In the Health Security Committee (HSC) (3) chaired by the Commission, Member States coordinate their response to the Mpox outbreak and agreed on a common EU approach regarding vaccination policies (4).

The HSC assessed preparedness measures in Member States for a possible introduction of Mpox virus clade I in August 2024. The ECDC published a Risk Assessment (5), last updated on 17 September 2024 (6). The ECDC gave rapid scientific advice to Member States’ health authorities on public health measures to take (7).

The ECDC has also deployed a public health expert to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and published a website on Mpox (8), including an epidemiological bulletin (9).

In 2022 and 2023, the Commission purchased and donated 334 540 (10) doses of vaccines to countries participating in the EU4Health programme.

The Commission signed a framework contract under the Joint Procurement Agreement with Bavarian Nordi c (11) for the supply of up to 2 million doses of the Mpox vaccine for participating countries to purchase over the course of 2023/2024.

1 ∙ ⸱ https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/early-warning-and-response-system-european-union-ewrs

2 ∙ ⸱ https://monkeypoxreport.ecdc.europa.eu/#:~:text=Get%20the%20latest%20bulletin%20on%20monkeypox

3 ∙ ⸱ https://health.ec.europa.eu/health-security-and-infectious-diseases/crisis-management/list-authorities-represented-health-security-committee/health-security-

committee-reports_en#:~:text=Health%20Security%20Committee%20reports.%20The 4 ∙ ⸱ https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/hsc-recommendations-common-eu-approach-regarding-vaccination-policies-monkeypox-outbreak-response_en 5 ∙ ⸱ https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/risk-assessment-mpox-epidemic-monkeypox-virus-clade-i-africa 6 ∙ ⸱ https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/mpox-monkeypox-epidemiological-update-week-37-2024 7 ∙ ⸱ https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/infectious-disease-topics/mpox/rapid-scientific-advice-public-health-measures-2024 8 ∙ ⸱ https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/mpox 9 ∙ ⸱

https://monkeypoxreport.ecdc.europa.eu/#:~:text=Get%20the%20latest%20bulletin%20on%20monkeypox 10 ∙ ⸱ https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_5362 11 ∙ ⸱

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_6766






















| | )The Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority is in contact with Member States and there is no indication at this stage that they require more vaccines than available. Mpox vaccines purchased for the stockpiles via rescEU ensure urgent needs are met (12).

12 ∙ ⸱ https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_5482 | | ( | | )