Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | The Ministry of Health has identified 23 districts along the Uganda-DRC border as high-risk areas for the potential importation of the mpox virus.
Among these districts identified with the highly contagious disease – formerly known as monkeypox, five are currently hosting refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Kampala has also been included in the list.
Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng announced that a one-year preparedness and response plan for mpox has been developed. The Ministry of Health and Kasese district have reactivated an emergency response mechanism, similar to those previously used during Ebola and Marburg virus outbreaks.
On Thursday, Dr. Aceng addressed Parliament, outlining Uganda’s readiness in the event of a spread of the MPOX virus into the country. Her statement followed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration on Wednesday that the increasing spread of mpox in Africa constitutes a global health emergency. WHO has warned that the virus may eventually cross international borders, with over 17,000 cases reported globally since the beginning of 2024.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond “is very worrying.”
“A co-ordinated international response is essential to stop this outbreak and save lives,” he said.
In Africa, there have been more than 14,000 reported cases and 524 deaths due to MPOX this year, surpassing last year’s figures. The majority of these cases—over 96%—are concentrated in a single country, the DRC.
Scientists are particularly concerned about the spread of a new variant of the disease in the DRC, which may be more easily transmissible among humans. East African countries including Burundi, Kenya, and Rwanda have also reported cases of mpox.
Although Uganda has not registered any deaths related to the virus, Dr. Aceng mentioned that two individuals who tested positive for mpox were treated and have since been discharged. The minister also emphasized the heightened risk of virus transmission in crowded environments such as schools and prisons, should a case be confirmed.
Regarding vaccination efforts, Dr. Aceng noted that two vaccines are currently under consideration for deployment.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, was first identified in 1958 following outbreaks of a “pox-like” disease in monkeys. Until recently, the majority of human cases occurred in Central and West Africa among people who had close contact with infected animals.
Former State Minister for Health, Dr. Emmanuel Otaala, has advised the public to avoid direct contact with monkeys and bats, as these animals are known reservoirs for such viruses. She further urged anyone experiencing symptoms to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest hospital or health center.
Outbreaks of mpox, also known as monkeypox, can be controlled through vaccination, though these vaccines are typically reserved for individuals at high risk or those who have been in close contact with infected persons. Mpox exists in two primary forms: Clade 1 and Clade 2.
The previous public health emergency related to MPOX in 2022 was caused by the relatively mild Clade 2 strain. However, the current outbreak is driven by the more lethal Clade 1, which has a fatality rate of up to 10% in past outbreaks. Since September of last year, mutations in the virus have led to the emergence of a new variant, Clade 1b, which has spread rapidly and is being described by scientists as “the most dangerous yet.”
Since the beginning of this year, more than 13,700 cases of mpox have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), resulting in at least 450 deaths. The virus has also been detected in other African nations, including Burundi, the Central African Republic, Kenya, and Rwanda.
The recent declaration of mpox as a public health emergency is expected to accelerate research, funding, and the implementation of international public health measures. Dr. Josie Golding of the Wellcome Trust described this declaration as a “strong signal,” while Dr. Boghuma Titanji of Emory University emphasized that it “underscores the gravity of the crisis.”
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Professor Trudie Lang, director of the Global Health Network at the University of Oxford, noted that the declaration is both “important and timely,” though she acknowledged that the emergence of this new strain brings “many unknowns that need to be addressed.”
In July 2022, the milder Clade 2 strain of MPOX spread to nearly 100 countries, including parts of Europe and Asia. During that outbreak, over 87,000 cases and 140 deaths were reported, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Although anyone can contract monkeypox, the 2022 outbreak primarily affected men who have sex with men. This earlier outbreak was brought under control through targeted vaccination efforts.
On Tuesday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention declared a public health emergency in response to the current outbreak. The head of the organization, Jean Kaseya, warned that the outbreak could spiral out of control if immediate measures are not taken to contain the virus.
“We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat,” he said.
