Leveraging Digital Tools in the Fight Against Mpox
In the wake of the resurgence of the mpox virus, global health experts gathered to share vital knowledge and best practices in utilizing digital and analytical tools to combat this emerging public health threat.
The virtual meeting, organized by the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence and partners, focused on fostering collaborative actions and leveraging innovative solutions in response to the evolving mpox outbreak.
The meeting addressed the weighty history of the recent outbreaks, beginning with the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by WHO in 2022. Despite a period of decline globally in 2023, a concerning upsurge of mpox cases, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and throughout Africa, led to WHO issuing a second declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in August 2024. This mirrored the previous declaration in 2022, highlighting the continued threat.
Catching the world somewhat off guard, the recent surge fueled the urgent need for collaborative action and highlighted the importance of coordinating international health responses. Participants delved into the critical role of data analysis and the deployment of innovative tools, which proved overwhelmingly beneficial during the initial mpox outbreak.
Experiences shared by Brazil and Chile provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of utilizing tools like Go.Data, an open-source outbreak investigation tool developed by WHO in collaboration with the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN).
“We found Go.Data to be extremely valuable in supporting our response efforts,” stated a representative from the Chilean Ministry of Health. “Its ability to handle integrated datasets and facilitate contact tracing proved crucial in controlling the spread of the virus.”
Similar successes were reported by Brazil, where Go.Data facilitated real-time data access, informing quick decision-making. The user-friendly tool allowed even staff with limited technical expertise to make valuable contributions to the response efforts. Lastly, Brazil praised Go.Data’s ability to be customized for individual responses, culminating in personalized tracking and management of contacts.
Beyond highlighting the efficacy of Go.Data, attendees also explored other crucial analytical tools critical for understanding and responding to the mpox outbreak.
Dr. Julia Fitzner, Clint of insight & analytics at the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence presented the Collaboratory, a platform dedicated to pandemic and epidemic intelligence. Dr. Fitzner emphasized the platform’s success in fostering a sense of community across various fields impacted by mpox and influenza outbreaks. She actively urged the larger community to “engage with the Collaboratory and consider establishing new communities of practice.” Dr. Fitzner praised the platform acting as a vital resource sharing essential information to enhance public health interventions.
Professor Sebastian Funk of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine talked about the value of tailored software tools for analyzing ellipses of mpox outbreaks. He underscored WHO’s collaborative global project focused on creating a global repository of epidemiological parameters relevant to a multitude of diseases.
“The effectiveness of these epidemiological models relies on robust data.” Professor Funk added.
Dr. Chloe Rice, consultant to the WHO on the Epi Parameter Community of Practice presented the development of a Global Repository of Epidemiological Parameters (GREP), a public resource inherently designed to accelerate modeling, analysis, and ultimately sound decision-making in responding to outbreaks.
The webinar concluded with a resounding call to action: continue engaging in open dialogue, sharing information and best practices and maintaining a global focus on utilizing innovation for the ongoing fight against mpox.
Participants are encouraged to become involved with the thriving Go.Data community:
How are digital tools, specifically Go.Data, contributing to mpox outbreak investigation and response?
## Leveraging Digital Tools in the Fight Against Mpox
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**Host:** Welcome back to Global Health Watch. Today, we’re diving into the critical role of digital tools in combating the resurgence of mpox. Joining me is Dr. Alex Reed, an epidemiologist specializing in infectious disease outbreaks. Dr. Alex Reed, thank you for being here.
**Dr. Alex Reed:** My pleasure. This is an important conversation to have.
**Host:** Absolutely. We’ve seen a concerning rise in mpox cases, particularly in Africa, prompting the WHO to re-declare a public health emergency. What role do digital tools play in addressing this evolving threat?
**Dr. Alex Reed:** Digital tools are absolutely vital in this fight. They allow us to analyze data
quickly and effectively, identify trends, and ultimately make more informed decisions about resource allocation and response strategies.
**Host:** We’ve heard about a tool called Go.Data being used successfully in countries like Brazil and Chile. Can you tell us more about that?
**Dr. Alex Reed:** Go.Data is an open-source tool developed by the WHO and its partners. It’s designed specifically for outbreak investigation. Think of it as a central hub for gathering, integrating, and analyzing data from various sources – lab results, contact tracing information, patient demographics – you name it.
**Host:** And how has Go.Data been impactful in those countries?
**Dr. Alex Reed: ** It’s been a game-changer. In Chile, as they highlighted, its ability to handle vast integrated datasets and facilitate contact tracing was crucial in containing the spread of mpox. Brazil echoed those sentiments, praising its real-time data access for swift decision-making and user-friendly interface that allows even staff with limited technical expertise to contribute effectively.
**Host:** That accessibility is key. So, it’s not just about the technology itself, but also about making it usable for frontline workers.
**Dr. Alex Reed:** Exactly. Go.Data’s customizability also allows for personalized tracking and management of contacts, tailoring the response to specific needs.
**Host:** This brings up a broader point – the importance of international collaboration in sharing these tools and best practices.
**Dr. Alex Reed:** Absolutely crucial. The WHO meeting highlighted just how valuable these exchanges are in learning from each other’s experiences and adopting proven strategies. We need a global, coordinated effort to effectively combat mpox.
**Host:** Thank you, Dr. Alex Reed, for sharing your insights. This underscores the power of digital tools in protecting global health.
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