They include five districts hosting refugees from DRC and Kampala capital city. They also include 17 districts sharing borders with DRC.
The
Ministry of Health has classified 23 districts in Uganda as high risk for potential
importation of the monkey virus.
The
Minister of Health, Jane Ruth Aceng said most of those districts are along the Uganda-DRC
border.
Five
districts hosting refugees from DRC and Kampala are top of the list.
A one-year
MPOX preparedness and response plan has been developed. An emergency response mechanism
similar to what was used during the Ebola and Murburg virus outbreaks has been reactivated
at the Ministry of Health and Kasese district
. ////Cue
In” The ministry has since
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Out ….border surveillance“///
Dr.
Aceng on Thursday delivered a statement in Parliament about Uganda’s
preparedness if the virus spreads into Uganda.
Her
statement came hours after the World Health Organization declared Wednesday
that the increasing spread of mpox in Africa
is a global health emergency.
The global health
agency warned the virus might ultimately spill across international borders.
There have been more than 17000 cases of MPOX since
the beginning of 2024.
Five hundred people in 13 countries in Africa have died of
this viral infection. Uganda has not registered any deaths.
According
to the Minister, the two people who tested positive for the virus were treated
and discharged.
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In “ Uganda Virus Research ….
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Out ….discharged with no complications”///
WHO
said there have been more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths in Africa this year,
which already exceeds last year’s figures.
So
far, more than 96% of all cases and deaths are in a single country — Congo.
Scientists are concerned by the spread of a new version of the disease there
that might be more easily transmitted among people.
East
African countries that have reported MPOX cases are Burundi, Kenya, and Rwanda.
The minister reported that MPX transmission in DRC is expanding rapidly and
that the risk of importation into Uganda remains high.
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in “MPOX transmission…
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Out….. especially schools and prisons”////
Aceng
said schools and prisons increase the risk of first spread if there is a
confirmed case because of congestion.
Signs
and symptoms
///Cue
In “MPOX……
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Out … treatment for the virus”///
Regarding
vaccination, Aceng reported that there are two vaccines under consideration for
deployment.
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In “There is one call MB…..
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Out….. by WHO“///
What is mpox?
Mpox,
also known as monkeypox, was first identified by scientists in 1958 when there
were outbreaks of a “pox-like” disease in monkeys. Until recently, most human
cases were seen in people in central and West Africa who had close contact with
infected animals.
How
to avoid MPOX.
Former
State Minister for Health, Dr. Emmanuel Otaala urges the public to avoid direct
contact with monkeys and bats because they are reservoirs for such viruses.
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In “ In a number of communities here
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You are advised to visit the nearest hospital/health center in case of symptoms.
