Are Uganda's mpox cases Really Declining with 8,001 Confirmed?

Kampala, Sep 5 (NationPress) The cumulative count of confirmed mpox cases in Uganda has reached 8,001, with 50 deaths reported, as the East African nation sees a reduction in new infections, according to the Ministry of Health.

In the last 24 hours, there were 15 new infections and two deaths, as highlighted in a national situation report released by the ministry.

The ministry indicated that there has been a general decline in weekly incident cases since the declaration of the mpox outbreak in August 2024.

“For the first time since October 2024, fewer than 100 incident cases have been reported weekly for six consecutive epidemiological weeks,” the report noted.

As of now, 120 out of 146 districts have reported at least one case since the outbreak began, with 40 districts noting new cases in the past 21 days, according to the ministry.

“Overall, 50 deaths have occurred among confirmed cases, with 46 percent involving individuals coinfected with HIV,” the report added.

Health authorities are continuing vaccination campaigns aimed at high-risk populations, alongside surveillance, case management, and public awareness efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Mpox, also referred to as monkeypox, is a viral infectious disease that spreads through close contact. Symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, muscle aches, skin rash, and back pain.

The virus primarily spreads from person to person through close contact with an infected individual, including household members. Close contact includes skin-to-skin and mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-skin interactions, and can also involve being face-to-face with an infected person, which can generate infectious respiratory particles.

Individuals with multiple sexual partners are at a greater risk of acquiring mpox.

Additionally, mpox can be contracted from contaminated items such as clothing or linens, through needle injuries in healthcare settings, or in community environments like tattoo parlours.

During pregnancy or childbirth, the virus may be transmitted to the infant. Contracting mpox during pregnancy can pose serious risks to the fetus or newborn, potentially leading to pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or complications for the parent.

Animal-to-human transmission of mpox can occur from bites or scratches from infected animals, or during activities such as hunting, skinning, trapping, cooking, playing with carcasses, or consuming animals. The animal reservoir of the monkeypox virus remains unidentified, and further investigations are ongoing.

More research is essential to understand how mpox spreads during outbreaks in various settings and conditions.