How WHO helped in Moyale city fight a Mpox outbreak
August 12, 2025
The rapid Mpox outbreak in Moyale, Ethiopia, underscored the dangers of cross-border transmission in high-traffic regions. Swift action by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, supported by WHO, demonstrated the power of coordinated response. Isolation units, targeted community education, and active surveillance curbed further spread. Integrating mental health support and engaging religious leaders reduced stigma and encouraged testing. By prioritizing border screening, multilingual communication, and local volunteer training, the response not only contained the outbreak but also strengthened long-term community resilience. Moyale’s experience highlights that preparedness, trust, and sustained collaboration are essential to managing infectious threats in vulnerable, interconnected regions.
The Mpox outbreak in Moyale, Ethiopia, revealed both the vulnerabilities and strengths of public health systems in high-mobility border regions. When a newborn contracted the virus from her parents, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health moved quickly to declare an outbreak, recognizing the risks posed by Moyale’s position along a busy Ethiopia–Kenya transit corridor.
The World Health Organization partnered with national and regional authorities to deploy a multidisciplinary team. Efforts focused on rapid outbreak assessment, strengthening laboratory capacity, and enhancing surveillance at 10 key border points. Health workers received targeted training in case recognition, isolation procedures, and safe follow-up. Five new isolation units were established, and essential protective equipment, medicines, and IPC supplies were delivered to previously under-resourced facilities.
Risk communication and community engagement strategies were pivotal. Volunteers conducted door-to-door contact tracing, mobile loudspeaker announcements in three languages, and outreach in schools, mosques, and community gatherings, reaching over 92,000 people. Mental health and psychosocial support services were integrated into the response, addressing stigma and building trust. Religious leaders played a key role in countering misinformation, which contributed to higher testing acceptance.
While the response faced challenges such as supply chain delays, remote-area access issues, and initial community reluctance, persistent engagement and cross-border coordination led to a marked reduction in new cases by the end of the WHO mission. The outbreak response left behind a stronger local surveillance system, trained volunteers, and operational isolation units.
Moyale’s experience reinforces the importance of rapid action, community trust, and sustained collaboration in outbreak control. It also underscores that in border areas, where movement is constant and health risks can spread quickly, preparedness must combine medical response with social engagement, education, and cross-national cooperation. The lessons learned here are critical for preventing similar crises in other high-risk regions.