Confirmed Mpox cases rise to 80, schools affected

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KAMPALA - The number of confirmed Mpox cases in Uganda has risen to 80 (eighty), Mpox Outbreak in Uganda Situation update of October 9, 2024 has revealed.

The same report indicates that there are nine new confirmed cases in the last 24 hours of the period of reporting.

These were registered in the districts of Kampala (with 05 new confirmed cases), Nakasongola (with 03 new confirmed cases) and Wakiso (with one new case) have continued to register new cases.

The 80 confirmed Mpox cases are from eleven (11) districts with Nakasongola having the highest number of cases at 25; a rise from 21 as of the October 5, Mpox Outbreak in Uganda situational report.

This is followed by Kampala at 21, up from 15 (as of October 5 report). Wakiso has recorded 12 positive cases, Mayuge has registered 10 cases, Kasese where the disease originated has recorded 4 cases and Mityana has registered 3 confirmed Mpox cases. 

Meanwhile, Amuru, Kagadi, Nakaseke, Adjumani, and Mukono have registered one case each.

There is no death registered among the confirmed cases, according to the report. A total of twelve (12) confirmed cases have been moved to treatment units. The treatment units with active admissions include those in the districts of Adjumani, Nakasongola, Wakiso, Mayuge, Nakaseke, Tororo, and Isingiro.

Schools not spared

Two schools; one in Mityana and another in Nakasongola have registered Mpox confirmed cases.

The district health officer Nakasongola, Dr. Agaba Byamukama confirmed the development. 

Dr. Agaba said among the 25 confirmed Mpox cases is a pupil from Mworwe Primary School. 

Dr Agaba said they have embarked on sensitizing the head teachers in the district and imploring them to educate the teachers and also put in place infection control and prevention measures. He said next week they will hold sensitization sessions in schools on how Mpox disease is spread and how to prevent it.

Although the district health officer Mityana, Dr. Kawooya declined to reveal the school, he said since the school recorded the Mpox case three weeks ago, it is operating normally and has not registered a new case.

The Health Ministry senior communications officer Emmanuel Ainebyoona said they have issued guidelines on what schools need to do. Additionally, they will be intensifying the dissemination of risk communication messages.

“We are working with the Ministry of Education and Sports to ensure the spread of Mpox does not disrupt,” Ainebyoona said.

 Background

Uganda confirmed the first cases of Mpox on 24th July 2024 following the confirmation of two case-patients from Kasese District, Bwera Hospital by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) through a routine surveillance system.

These two cases were detected among six case-patients with symptoms consistent with the Mpox.

The epidemic spread from the original epicentre in Kamituga, South Kivu, DRC to eastern DRC with transborder spread to Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a public health emergency of international concern. This was the second time in 2 years that reclassified Mpox to this highest level of response.

The global alert was preceded by a declaration by the African CDC on August 13, 2024, recognizing Mpox as a public health emergency of continental security. These declarations underline the seriousness of the situation and the need for concerted efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

Understanding Mpox

Mpox is a zoonotic disease which means that is transmitted from animals to human beings through handling or consuming infected animals, such as squirrels, rats, mice or monkeys.

It can also be spread from one infected human being to another through direct physical contact such as kissing, or sexual contact with an infected person, the WHO technical in charge of case management, Dr. Annet Alenyo Ngabirano said.

Dr. Alenyo said infected pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers can pass on the virus to their unborn babies or newborn babies by close contact during and after birth.
In halation of droplets from infected individuals with nasal involvement or exposure to respiratory droplets from an infected person.

Contact with contaminated materials such as bedding, clothing or needles that have been used by an infected person.

Signs and symptoms

When a person is infected with Mpox, they will develop signs and symptoms in two phases, said the incident commander Mpox Dr Henry Bosa Kyobe.

The first phase is characterized by fever, body ache and runny nose which last a few days. 

In the second phase, an individual will develop a skin rash, and swollen glands (lymph nodes) in the neck, armpits, and groin. 

Others include: mouth and sore throat, headache, back pain, and general body weakness, Dr. Kyobe noted.