The government has reached out to the United States Embassy and the World Health Organization (WHO) for assistance in securing Monkeypox vaccines to protect high-risk groups, including health workers and frontline personnel.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Health, Dr. Ruth Aceng, during a statement on the status of Monkeypox in Uganda in Parliament.
Dr. Aceng disclosed that Uganda has so far recorded two positive cases of Monkeypox, marking the first time the virus has been confirmed in the country. The cases were identified from six samples collected at Bwera Hospital in Kasese District. The two affected individuals were treated and have since recovered without complications. No further cases linked to these initial infections have been reported.
Aceng says that the Ministry of Health has activated an emergency response mechanism, the Incident Management System, similar to the systems used during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 Ebola epidemic.
“The Ministry has since reached out to both the US Embassy in Uganda, and World Health Organization for vaccines to prioritize the high risk groups (health workers, contacts and other frontline workers).” she noted
The Ministry is working closely with WHO to strengthen cross-border collaboration for real-time information sharing and border surveillance, particularly in Kasese District.
“An emergency response mechanism, the Incident Management System, consistent to what was used to respond to the COVIS-19 pandemic and the 2022 Ebola epidemic response has been activated at MoH and in Kasese district.” she said
Dr. Aceng noted that the alarming spread of Monkeypox in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where over 14,000 cases have been reported, making up 96% of confirmed cases in Africa this month. Other East African countries, including Burundi, Kenya, and Rwanda, have also reported cases, with Burundi experiencing secondary transmission.
Given the proximity to DRC and the regular cross-border movement between the two countries for trade and social activities, Uganda remains at high risk for further importation of the virus.
Seventeen districts in Uganda share a border with DRC, with numerous designated and undesignated crossing points, including Lake Albert and Lake George.
Since the start of the year, more than 17,000 Monkeypox cases and over 500 deaths have been reported across 13 African countries, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.