Uganda is facing a significant rise in Mpox cases, with the number of reported infections nearly doubling from 22 to 41 in just two weeks.
This worrying trend was revealed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday. Most of the new cases are concentrated in three main areas: Nakasongola, Kampala, and Wakiso.
Mpox is a viral disease that can cause a range of symptoms, including rashes and lesions on the skin. It is similar to smallpox but usually less severe.
The current outbreak in Uganda has been particularly alarming, as many of the cases have come from fishing communities near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the disease was first imported.
Deputy Mpox Incident Commander, Atek Kagirita, explained that ten different districts in Uganda have reported Mpox cases.
Nakasongola, a district located north of Kampala, is experiencing the majority of infections, accounting for more than 40% of the total cases.
Health officials have observed that many women are coming forward with infections affecting their genitals.
Some of these patients are developing large, painful lesions that take a long time to heal. This can lead to confusion since some of the symptoms can resemble chickenpox or other similar illnesses.
Kagirita spoke at the first symposium on Mpox in Uganda, organised by the Interdisciplinary Consortium for Epidemic Research (ICER). This event gathered healthcare leaders and researchers from across Africa to discuss how to tackle the rising cases of this viral disease.
One of the experts at the symposium, Professor Wilber Sabiiti from the University of St. Andrews in the UK, stressed the need for more research.
He stressed that Uganda needs to investigate why these painful lesions are occurring in female patients. Currently, it’s not clear which type of the Mpox virus is causing the most severe symptoms.
Response and Preparedness
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Uganda Country Director reassured the public that while the number of cases is increasing, the country’s response is well-organised.
The MOH has ramped up surveillance efforts to quickly find and test anyone who may be infected. This proactive approach aims to stop the spread of the virus to others.
To strengthen the response, the CDC has trained over 15 staff members from the MOH. These trained personnel are now conducting health screenings at various border points to catch any potential cases early. This training has already been crucial in identifying the first two Mpox cases at border locations.
Vaccination Efforts
At the symposium, some researchers raised concerns about the vaccine being used to protect against Mpox.
They suggested that more studies are needed to determine if the vaccine works effectively against the specific types of the virus currently spreading in DRC and other parts of Africa.
Despite these concerns, the CDC director encouraged Ugandans to get vaccinated, noting that the vaccine has already undergone thorough testing worldwide.
While Uganda is seeing a rise in cases, it is important to note that other East African countries are also monitoring the situation closely.
Interestingly, officials from Tanzania reported that they have not confirmed any cases of Mpox yet. In contrast, DRC has the highest number of cases and deaths, while Burundi has reported a total of 854 Mpox cases.
Burundi
As of Wednesday, Burundi reported that 444 people have recovered from Mpox, but there are still 410 active cases, with many concentrated in the capital city, Bujumbura. Thankfully, just like Uganda, Burundi has not reported any deaths linked to Mpox.
END
English 