Mpox Resource Hub | Nutrition Response

Mpox Resource Hub: Comprehensive Information and Updates

What is Mpox?

Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus (genus Orthopoxvirus). WHO monitoring shows distinct Mpox clades and subclades impacting diverse populations in different regions. More information is available on the WHO Mpox Fact Sheet and the WHO Global Mpox Trends website.

General Infection Prevention and Control Guidance 

• WHO Clinical management and infection prevention and control for monkeypox (2022):
  • Refer to section 4.3.1. on page 13 for clinical considerations around pain and nutrition: useful from the point of view of maternal health and nutrition, as well as for children from 6 to 59 months.
  • Refer to section 8.3 on page 27 for recommendations on caring for infant and young children with Mpox.
  • Refer to section 8.4 on page 28 for recommendations on  infant feeding for  mothers infected with Mpox. 
• WHO Mpox Q&A: Access comprehensive answers to common questions about Mpox.
• Global WASH Cluster Resources: Explore additional resources related to Mpox in humanitarian WASH response.

Key Resources with Focus on Pregnancy and Breastfeeding 

More resources will be added here as key questions are being considered by the IFE Core Group that will further refine recommendations for the nutritional care of infants and young children and the protection of breastfeeding. 

• UNICEF internal technical note: nutrition and Mpox case management.
• Mpox and IYCF-E on the IYCFE Hub: this collection of resources on Mpox and infant and young child feeding (IYCF), with particular emphasis on infection prevention and control guidance, as well as guidance on pregnancy and breastfeeding. This collection is curated by the IFE Core Group and the GNC and will be updated as more information becomes available.
  • Mpox Joint Statement template - IFE template available in both English and French. 
• FAQs: Breastfeeding in the context of mpox – information for health workers
• QUESTIONS FRÉQUENTES : L’allaitement dans le contexte du Mpox – informations pour les professionnels de santé.
• UNICEF Global Mpox Preparedness and Response for Children
• Save the Children International internal Stop Gap Guidance version 1: This reference is designed as temporary support for frontline health workers on clinical considerations for Infant and Young Child Feeding in emergencies in the clinical management of Mpox. It should be noted this guidance mainly focuses on breastfeeding considerations and does not include recommendations beyond this related to complementary feeding or the clinical management of Mpox in mothers or their children. It's available in English and French.
• Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies Clinical Reference for Mpox
• L’Alimentation Du Nourrisson Et Du Jeune Enfant Dans Les Situations D’Urgence Référence Clinique Pour La Variole Du Singe (Mpox) 
• Mpox Virus Transmissibility by Breastfeeding: Check this post by en-net for considerations about Mpox virus transmissibility through breastfeeding.

Please note that Atlanta-CDC released recent clinical recommendations with a pregnancy and breastfeeding focus and it’s worth noting these were developed for the United States domestic use. 

NOTE: Agency-specific guidance are the responsibility of the publishing agency and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IFE Core Group and/or GNC.

Other Useful Links 

• Global Trends in Mpox Outbreaks from the World Health Organization (WHO).   
• Guide de prise en charge nutritionnelle et du soutien alimentaire dans le contexte de la maladie à virus M-Pox en République Démocratique du Congo
• Preparedness and response plans:
  • WHO Global Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan

Open Courses/ Webinars

• OpenWHO courses on Mpox: Enhance your knowledge about mpox with this free course, available in English, Français, Spanish, Русский,  العربية, Português and 中文.
• Webinaire sur la réponse nutritionnelle au Mpox / Mpox nutrition response webinar