Kampala, Uganda – Uganda’s health ministry has confirmed two additional cases of mpox virus, bringing the country’s total to four. The newly identified cases are linked to the clade 1b strain of the virus, a variant that has raised global concern due to its increased transmissibility.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared the ongoing mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) following the identification of this new variant.
Uganda first reported mpox infections on July 24, when laboratory tests on samples from two patients at a hospital near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) returned positive. The latest two cases were confirmed this week, with one of the patients being a truck driver. Both individuals are currently isolated at a hospital in Entebbe, a town located about 50 kilometers south of the capital, Kampala.
Mpox infections are characterized by flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. The virus is transmitted through close physical contact. While most cases are mild, the disease can be fatal in some instances.
Uganda shares a border with the DRC, where the current mpox outbreak originated in January 2023.
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