Jaime Miranda, professor at the School of Medicine at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima: “Latin America faces significant challenges in preparing for a potential mpox outbreak, as the region has not had sufficient time to change course and get on track with the ‘building back better’ motto used by large international institutions. The region’s longstanding social ailments, where health care systems are often fragmented, complicates coordinated responses to health crises. This fragmentation is particularly evident in rural and Indigenous communities as well as for those living in poverty, where access to health care services and resources is limited. Vaccination campaigns are crucial but unevenly implemented, particularly if cost is an issue, with some countries having more robust programs than others. The most vulnerable populations in Latin America and the Caribbean are the poorest of the poor, those in remote and Indigenous communities. These groups often face…”