Authorities have confirmed a case of mpox at Nakasongola prison in central Uganda. A prison spokesperson reported that the affected inmate has been isolated and is receiving treatment. This development follows the World Health Organization’s declaration of mpox as a global public health emergency for the second time in two years in August, triggered by an outbreak in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo that has also affected Burundi and Rwanda.
The identification of mpox in an overcrowded Ugandan prison raises significant concerns for health officials. The virus, which spreads through close contact, typically presents with mild symptoms but can be fatal in rare cases, often resulting in flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions.
Frank Baine, spokesperson for the Uganda Prison Service, stated, “The prisoner could not be granted bail due to being held for murder. We suspect he may have entered the facility with the virus, but this is still under investigation.”
To combat the spread of mpox, prison officials plan to implement safety protocols developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent reports indicate that Uganda’s mpox cases have risen to 41, according to health officials. Health Ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyoona mentioned that more updates regarding the outbreak will be released later today.
In September, the Ministry of Health announced it had secured 2,000 doses of mpox vaccines from the Africa CDC to assist in managing the outbreak, although it has not yet confirmed the commencement of vaccinations. Concurrently, health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo launched their first mpox vaccination campaign last Saturday. Uganda is also on high alert for potential cross-border transmission of the highly contagious Marburg virus, which is currently affecting Rwanda.
