I personally argue that in addition to determining suitable intervention programs, we also need to classify the targets of intervention because the susceptible populations (and the populations at risk) for mpox disease are specific. Thus, we cannot make a blanket claim that everyone is at risk.
In the context of the mpox epidemic in Indonesia, we highlight that mpox is considered a sexually-transmitted illness where the disease morbidity is high among the homosexual and bisexual groups but low in the heterosexual population. Here are the possible interventions we could apply to control mpox epidemic which could be included in the models:
To prevent people from becoming susceptible to virus exposure
– Interventions: health promotion with particular focus on chain transmission, including safe sex practice
– Characteristics of intervention: coverage, effectiveness
For the susceptible population, including those who may have been exposed:
– Interventions: two-dose mpox vaccination, integrated surveillance (HIV-mpox), contact tracing,
– Characteristics of intervention: coverage, vaccine efficacy, surveillance sensitivity, cost-effectiveness
To increase recovery rate and reduce fatality
– Interventions: intensive treatment and health facility-based isolation (not home isolation)
– Characteristics of intervention: coverage, drug efficacy