The Ministry of Health has revealed that Uganda is ready to fight Mpox just like it has done with Ebola and Marburg in the past. Mpox, which has been declared an Africa-wide public health emergency by the African Centres for Disease Control has spread in neighbouring countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Kenya already.
“We are very prepared. We have had interactions with viral heamoragic fevers like ebola and marbug and therefore we have capacity and systems in place to stop this Mpox outbreak.” said the Ministry of health Spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyona
The outbreak in Congo began with the spread of an endemic strain, known as Clade I. But the new variant, known as Clade Ib, appears to spread more easily through routine close contact, particularly among children. Ainebyona says Uganda has already set in motion a plan to beat the quickly spreading virus.
“We have a response plan in place, surveillance has been stepped up and therefore there is no cause for alarm.” he said
Uganda on 2nd August declared two cases of Mpox in Kasese which were imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“These were imported cases from DRC, and therefore we have not had any primary or local transmission of the disease in Uganda” Ainebyona said
Over 15,000 mpox cases have been recorded this year with 461 deaths confirmed according to the Africa CDC. This represents a 160% increase from the same period last year.
Mpox is transmitted through close contact and causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Most cases are mild but it can kill.
