Disaster Response

Full Answer Section

• Contact Tracing: Once cases were confirmed, a major priority was to trace the contacts of infected individuals to prevent further spread. This involved public health interviews and daily monitoring of close contacts for 21 days.
• Medical Countermeasures: Agencies quickly moved to assess the availability of medical countermeasures. In this case, there was no specific mpox vaccine, but there were existing smallpox vaccines (like JYNNEOS and ACAM2000) that were effective against the virus. A key priority was to begin mobilizing and distributing these limited supplies, initially for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for close contacts and later for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for at-risk populations.
• Scientific Investigation: A new outbreak of a known disease in a new context (widespread human-to-human transmission outside of endemic regions) required rapid scientific investigation. Agencies needed to understand the clinical presentation of the new strain, the new modes of transmission (especially sexual contact), and the effectiveness of available treatments.

What They Got Right

• Rapid Surveillance and Public Notification: The CDC and WHO were quick to alert the global community. The rapid identification of cases in non-endemic countries and the subsequent public health alerts allowed other nations to prepare and respond.
• Leveraging Existing Resources: The swift pivot to using existing smallpox vaccines and antiviral treatments (like Tecovirimat) was a major success. Instead of waiting for a new vaccine, they repurposed existing tools, which allowed for an immediate medical response.
• Targeted Communication and Vaccine Strategy: As epidemiological data came in, agencies successfully tailored their messaging and vaccination efforts to the specific at-risk populations. By focusing on gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM), they were able to reach the communities most affected and curb the spread effectively. This targeted approach was a critical factor in bringing the outbreak under control

Sample Answer

Initial Priorities of Public Health Agencies

• Surveillance and Case Identification: The very first priority was to identify and confirm cases. This involved heightened surveillance and working with clinicians and laboratories to quickly test suspected cases. This was crucial for understanding the geographic spread, transmission patterns, and demographics of those affected. The CDC, for example, activated its emergency response on May 23, 2022, and began working with state and local health departments to identify cases.
• Risk Communication: Public health agencies immediately began issuing alerts and guidance. The WHO made an emergency announcement in early May 2022, and the CDC followed suit. The goal was to inform the public, healthcare providers, and at-risk communities about the new outbreak, the symptoms, and how it was spreading. This included developing and disseminating educational materials.