Mpox resurgence: navigating the next wave of the outbreak

9 October 2024 @ 13.00 CET*

On 14 August 2024, WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to a sharp rise in cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighbouring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. This webinar aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of the recent resurgence of Mpox, focusing on the virology, ecology, and transmission dynamics of the new strain. It will also discuss the current state of vaccines, strategies to enhance resilience against future outbreaks, and the critical role of the One Health approach in addressing zoonotic threats like Mpox. The event will bring together experts to share insights, discuss challenges, and propose strategies for more effective mitigation and preparedness.

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**Certificates of attendance will be available.

Speakers / programme

1. "Clinical Features, Diagnosis and Treatment Approaches"

Prof. Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales is a Senior Researcher and Faculty member at the Faculty of Medicine, Fundación Universitaria Autónoma de las Américas, Pereira, Colombia.
He is also a Researcher and Faculty member at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru.
He is a non-Resident Faculty Researcher at Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon.
He is President of the Latin American Society for Travel Medicine (SLAMVI) (2023-2025), Editor-in-Chief of Travel Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Member of the Council for International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) (2020-2026) and a Member of the Working Group on Viral Infections of ISAC.

2. "Epidemiological Trends and Insights"

Dr Jonathan Nkalubo is a Ugandan medical doctor and researcher with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Makerere University. He conducts research at the Uganda National Health Research Organization and has led several One Health initiatives at the Africa One Health University Network (AFROHUN). His research interests include Indigenous Peoples' health, infectious diseases, health policy, antimicrobial resistance, and zoonoses. He is affiliated with the Indigenous Peoples Observatory Network (IPON), serves as a reviewer for the AIDS and Behavior Journal, and is a member of the World Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and ISAC's One Health working group.

3. "Insights into Virology and Vaccine Strategies"

Manal Mohammad Baddour is a Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology in the Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt. She got her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology in 1995 from Alexandria University, Egypt.
She Has been listed in the Marquis Who’s Who in the World for 2009 and in the Academic Keys Who’s Who list for Medicine Higher Education.

She has held several positions including: Secretary General of the Permanent Scientific Committee for Promotion of Professors and Associate Professors in Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Egypt (2 rounds).
She has been appointed Editor/Associate Editor for 5 Scientific Journals, Reviewer for 19 Scientific Journals as well as being Assessor for promotion files of Faculty members from Egyptian, Jordanian and Saudi Arabian Universities, Editor of 3 books and author of 1 book, Author/co-author of over 40 publications in scientific journals.

She held memberships in several organisations including the Gerson Lehrman Group for Healthcare & Biomedical Council, Society for General Microbiology (England), Egyptian Society for Medical Microbiology, Egyptian Association of Immunologists, Egyptian Society for Infection Control, Egyptian Medical Syndicate, Alexandria Medical Syndicate Council member of the African Association of Physiological Sciences, South Africa, Council member of the African Regional Training Network for Medical and Allied Health Sciences, South Africa.

4. "Enhancing Resilience Through a One Health Approach"

Prof. Heba Mohtady Ali is a Professor of Microbiology and a leader in multidisciplinary research spanning Antimicrobial Resistance, disaster preparedness, and the impacts of climate change on health. Her expertise in healthcare disaster resilience, recognised by the World Health Organisation, is a testament to her leadership. Served as a medical education director at two universities, demonstrating her ability to align health and education systems with global standards and enhance health professionals’ education, mentoring and development. Prof Ali holds a PhD from Griffith University, a Medical Doctorate from Zagazig University, and a master’s in Health Professions Education from Maastricht and Suez Canal Universities.

"Moderator"

Fatma Amer is Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Zagazg Faculty of Medicine, Egypt and was the past head of the Department. Currently, she is an emeritus professor at the same university, Executive Committee member of ISAC and the Chair of the ISAC/Viral Infection Working Group. She is a member of the Publication Committee of ISID. Coupled with other activities, she contributed to the development of ISID Routledge Handbook of ID; Taylor & Francis. Working in a country with limited resources, she is able to tackle various health problems. She carried out extensive research in in HCV, and published many articles. The most important was that which identified for the first time the mutants responsible for failure of DAAs therapy among Egyptian HCV genotype 4a patients. To participate in combating AMR , she formulated the ArAPUA which is an affiliated ISAC society, joined “WAAAR” and is working as WHO consultant in the AG CIA. To help fight HAI, she is a consultant of IPC (1990- 2024) nationally, regionally and internationally, has introduced an MSc degree in IPC at her faculty, and developed two volumes of IPC books.
She is working as OH consultant and opened channels with AAS and AFROHUN. She is an affiliate of ILRI, Kemri, AHEAD, and American Public Health Association- One Health Section. She conducted distinguished research in zoonosis. She supervised and evaluated many MSc and PhD candidates, and is a reviewer of manuscripts submitted for journals, conferences and awards. She published books and numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, and is a frequent winner of prizes for international publication. She participated in conferences all over the world as organiser, chairperson and speaker.