Wednesday, 18 November 2026, 13:00 – 14:00 (CET)
Background
Since the global Mpox outbreak in 2022, our understanding of the disease has evolved considerably. Mpox continues to affect communities in different regions of the world, with outbreaks linked to multiple virus clades and ongoing transmission through close contact. In response to this changing situation, WHO has released its 2026 Clinical Management and Infection Prevention and Control Guideline for Mpox, providing updated recommendations to support safe, effective and person-centred care for people with suspected or confirmed mpox.
The new guideline builds on lessons learned over the past four years and incorporates the latest available evidence. A key advancement is its shift from emergency interim recommendations to a fully evidence-informed framework developed using WHO’s GRADE methodology, providing a stronger foundation for clinical decision-making. The guideline introduces updated recommendations across the patient care pathway, including screening, triage, symptom management, care for severe illness and complications, discharge, and infection prevention and control measures. Importantly, it emphasizes practical approaches that can improve patient outcomes in a wide range of settings, including where specialised treatments may be limited.
This EPI-WIN webinar will highlight the key changes in the 2026 guidance, and share a patient’s lived experience.
Objectives
The objectives of the webinar :
- Explain how optimized supportive care—including pain relief, skin and eye care, hydration, nutrition and psychosocial support—can improve patients’ comfort and recovery.
- Present all of the new WHO clinical recommendations (on the subjects above) including appropriate antibiotic use and rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy for people with mpox and HIV who are untreated or have had a prolonged treatment interruption.
- Learn from a patient’s lived experience to understand care priorities, barriers to services and support needs during illness and recovery, and address participants’ questions.
Agenda and Speakers
Introduction of EPI-WIN, housekeeping and slido: Dr Supriya Bezbaruah, Lead, EPI-WIN Science and Knowledge Translation, WHO headquarters
Welcome remark - Opening and background situation and current EPI: Dr Rosamund Lewis, Pox programme Lead, Head Smallpox Secretariat, Epidemic and Pandemic Management Department (EPM), WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE)
Recap of old recommendations and changes/tweaks:
New clinical recommendations (focus skin, eyes, pain management, hydration):
Dr Seb Oiwoh, Consultant Physician, Dermatologist and Venereologist
Dermatology and Venereology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria & Guideline Development Group expert for WHO
Contraception: overview of new sections and how different from formal recommendation:
Dr Remco Peters, Medical Officer, Department of HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections, WHO
Implementing new recommendations in the field : Dr Chizaram Onyeaghala, Consultant Physician and Infectious Diseases Specialist Department of Internal Medicine, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria and GDG expert panel member
A recovered patient's perspective: Dr Seb Oiwoh, Consultant Physician & Guideline Development Group expert for WHO
Q&A: Moderated by Dr Tania Kelly: Case Management Expert, Safe and Scalable unit, EPM, WHE
Panelists:
Dr Jamie Rylance, Case Management Expert, Safe and Scalable unit, EPM, WHE
Dr Mahmoud Hamouda, Health Systems Officer, Safe and Scalable unit, EPM, WHE
Closing and next webinar: EPI-WIN Science and Knowledge Translation, WHO headquarters
Registration