Title : Monkeypox preparedness in Bangladesh: Public health priorities from a national expert survey

Background: Monkeypox, caused by Orthopoxvirus, has emerged as a global health threat, with human transmission occurring through close contact and a mortality rate ranging from 1% to 10%. Effective prevention necessitates vaccination, surveillance, and public education; however, resource-limited settings face significant challenges in implementation.

Methods: An online cross-sectional survey of 300 public health specialists experienced with outbreaks evaluated monkeypox risks and prevention, employing dichotomous scoring. Data were analyzed using R 4.2.0, applying descriptive statistics, odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and correlation tests (Phi, α=0.05).

Results: Bangladesh experiences considerable Mpox risks due to low public awareness (79% concerned), high population density (73%), and dangers from cross-border transmission (61%). Although challenges in healthcare (18%) and ecological factors (4%) were less significant, strong correlations were noted between awareness, density, and globalization. Participants prioritized public education (88%), enhanced surveillance (68%), and PPE use (63%), with vaccination (53%) and global partnerships (47%) identified as supplementary strategies for outbreak control.

Conclusion: This study indicates that Bangladesh's Mpox response emphasizes public awareness (the most favored), surveillance, and PPE use over global partnerships, thus supporting localized solutions. A balanced approach that merges community strategies with evidence-based policies is recommended for effective outbreak control.

Dr. Tanzila Rawnuck, MBBS, MPH, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Microbiology at Dhaka Dental College, Bangladesh. Her research focuses on medical microbiology, virology, emerging infectious diseases, vaccine-preventable diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and molecular diagnostics. She has published extensively on dengue, hepatitis B, oral microbiology, and infectious disease surveillance. As an early-career researcher, she is dedicated to advancing public health through innovative research, strengthening laboratory diagnostics, and fostering international scientific collaboration to address global health challenges, particularly in resource-limited settings.