Rising Mpox Cases Force Uganda into High Alert

Uganda on High Alert Amid Rising Mpox Cases

Uganda is currently on high alert due to a significant rise in Mpox cases, following reports of a new, more virulent strain spreading across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Ministry of Health in Uganda has confirmed two cases of Mpox linked to individuals who had traveled from the DRC.

Mpox, which is transmitted through close contact, typically causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While most cases are mild, the disease can be fatal. The new variant, known as Clade Ib, is circulating predominantly in Congo and appears to spread more readily through routine close contact, particularly among children.

Jean Kaseya, the Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), noted on Thursday that reported Mpox cases in Africa have surged by 79 percent from 2022 to 2023, and by 160 percent from 2023 to 2024. This alarming increase is prompting urgent measures.

Kaseya plans to consult with leaders of the African Union (AU) and the African Union Commission next Tuesday to seek approval for declaring a public health emergency. Such a declaration would enhance the Africa CDC’s ability to coordinate cross-border responses, require member countries to report new cases, and mobilize both domestic and international resources. It would also expedite vaccine research and development. Kaseya has been in discussions with BioNTech, a German pharmaceutical company, about increasing vaccine production in response to the potential emergency declaration.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported an unprecedented rise in Mpox cases across Africa this year. In Congo alone, more than 13,000 suspected cases and 503 deaths have been reported, with the total number of cases since the start of 2023 reaching approximately 27,000, and over 1,000 deaths.

In neighboring countries such as Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya, which had previously been unaffected, cases of the new Mpox variant have been reported since mid-July. The WHO has indicated that further analysis is needed to understand transmission patterns and refine the response to the outbreak.

In response to the new strain, the CDC issued a second health alert on Wednesday to inform clinicians and health departments. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has pledged to convene an emergency committee to determine if the outbreak in Congo constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.

Additionally, the Africa CDC has been allocated $10.4 million in emergency funding from the AU to bolster its Mpox response efforts.

Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus, is a member of the same virus family as smallpox, although it is less severe. Originally transmitted from animals to humans, the virus is more common in tropical rainforest regions, where it results in thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths each year, primarily affecting children under 15.

The virus has two main strains. The milder strain led to a global outbreak in 2022, spreading to nearly 100 countries. The more severe strain, endemic to central Africa, is responsible for the current outbreak in DRC.

Mpox symptoms initially include fever, headaches, back pain, and muscle aches. After the fever subsides, a rash often develops, starting on the face and spreading to other parts of the body, including the palms and soles. The rash progresses through various stages before forming scabs that eventually fall off. While the infection generally resolves within 14 to 21 days, severe cases can result in lesions affecting the entire body, including the mouth, eyes, and genitals.

Table: Mpox Case Summary

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