NATIONAL
The Ministry of Health has reported the first Mpox death as the cumulative confirmed number of infections rose to 153, about three months after the initial cases were detected in the country.
Details from the ministry show the death was reported in Masindi from a person living with HIV. The district has registered three cases of the viral disease, which manifests with severe and raised pus-filled bumps on the face, private parts and other parts of the body.
Speaking to health officials and district leaders during the Annual Health Sub-Programme Joint Review Mission in Kampala on Wednesday, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the Health minister, called for an urgent reactivation of district task forces that helped in the Covid-19 fight to support the Mpox response.
Dr Aceng revealed that 19 districts have reported cases. The most affected is Kampala with 55 cases, followed by Nakasongola, the fishing community, which has 35 cases, and Wakiso with 23 cases.
“We lost one case, who was a patient with HIV, with a very low CD4 count. And this goes to emphasise that people who are immune-compromised and also children are at risk. People living with HIV who are not taking their medicines well and don’t have good viral load suppression are at risk,” she revealed.
Kampala metropolitan area (Kampala and Wakiso) leading in terms of infection was the same experience during Covid-19 where most cases were also in the area. Scientists explained that cities have a higher risk of disease spread because of the large concentration of the population (crowding) and they are hubs of transnational commerce and mobility, which increase exposure risks.
Dr Aceng said the major mode of transmission of Mpox seems to be sexual intercourse, although there are other modes of infection, including physical contact.
