Committee: World Health Organisation

Agenda 1: Preventing Spread of Monkeypox

Name: Nasywa Azmi Chandrakanti
Delegate of Italy

Agenda 1: Preventing Spread of Monkeypox

The world is currently being shocked by the spread of the monkeypox virus which is
reported to be transmitted through close contact with sufferers. The monkeypox virus is a virus
belonging to the orthopxvirus type, which includes the variola virus (which causes smallpox) and
vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine). This virus is the cause of monkeypox. This disease
is classified as zoonotic initially, which is a disease that is transmitted from animals to humans.
Currently, 3,100 confirmed and suspected cases of monkeypox have been reported in 7 endemic
and 32 non-endemic countries. Italy is one of the countries where the population is affected.
Cases of monkeypox in Italy have risen to 20 per 1 June 2022 and are set to increase
further in the coming days Italy has around five million doses of vaccine effective against
monkeypox and is ready for an eventual rise in contagion, Health Undersecretary Andrea Costa
said on Friday, while stressing that the disease is very different to COVID-19. The Higher Health
Institute (ISS) has already have five million doses available and they are ready to proceed if the
need should arise.

With such a case, World Health Organization (WHO) said it does not recommend mass
vaccination campaigns at this time to limit the outbreaks, and instead emphasized contact tracing
and isolation to limit the further spread of the poxvirus. In new interim guidance on vaccine use
against monkeypox, the WHO said contacts of cases should be offered post-exposure prophylaxis
(PEP) with a vaccine within four days of first exposure to prevent onset of disease. Pre-exposure
prophylaxis (PrEP) is recommended at this time only for health workers at risk, laboratory
personnel working with orthopoxviruses, clinical laboratory staff performing diagnostic testing
for monkeypox, and others who may be at risk as per national policy, the WHO said. The WHO
also said smallpox vaccine should not be used widely to fight monkeypox. Director-General
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, said during a WHO meeting, "While smallpox vaccines are
expected to provide some protection against monkeypox, there is limited clinical data, and
limited supply." The WHO is actively working to further identify outbreaks, and making sure
valuable vaccines were being distributed to endemic and non-endemic countries equitably.

Possible Solutions :

Even though in 2022 monkeypox is reported to have symptoms that are not life-
threatening, this monkeypox disease is being revolutionized like a variant of covid or one of the
factors that causes the body's immunity to decrease so that a more deadly disease may infect
the human body. During the new normal, it is easier for people to transit from one country to
another or public places. Meanwhile, monkeypox detection tools have not been intensified in
each country or in public places. Therefore, it is necessary to provide monkeypox test kits in every
public place and foreign and local citizens must be tested before leaving the country, city or
Committee: World Health Organisation
Agenda 1: Preventing Spread of Monkeypox
Name: Nasywa Azmi Chandrakanti
Delegate of Italy

stopping in public places. And vaccinations must be carried out not only for health workers, but
prioritize those who are confirmed and their closest people.

References :
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-mpx-immunization-2022.1 accessed 17 June
2022 07.00
https://www.ansa.it/english/news/general_news/2022/05/27/italy-has-five-million-vaccine-
doses-for-monkeypox-costa_dcb382fb-689e-4c8e-9000-d6990084c397.html accessed 17 June
2022 07.00
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/monkeypox-cases-around-
world-2022-05-23/ accessed 17 June 2022 07.00
https://www.cnnindonesia.com/gaya-hidup/20220523174154-255-800215/vaksin-cacar-air-85-
persen-masih-ampuh-cegah-cacar-monyet accessed 17 June 2022 07.00
https://www.alodokter.com/cacar-monyet accessed 17 June 2022 07.00