Mpox is rapidly spreading in Uganda with 830 cases reported across 19 states, raising significant concerns among health authorities. The majority of cases involve adult men and predominantly stem from a sexually transmissible strain. Concurrently, Rwanda has confirmed additional Marburg cases, leading to an urgent vaccination response as the outbreak’s source has been traced to a mine housing fruit bats. Increased vaccination efforts and testing protocols are critical in addressing these health crises.
The current spread of mpox in Uganda is alarming, with approximately 830 cases documented across 19 states, as reported by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). Initially identified within the confines of Nakasongola Prison, the disease is now affecting communities closer to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Moreover, new clusters emerging in fishing communities have raised additional concerns, according to Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, Africa CDC’s mpox lead, during a media briefing held last Thursday. In the preceding week alone, 61 new cases were confirmed, alongside one reported fatality. Notably, unlike the DRC, where children constitute half of the cases, only 12.5% of Uganda’s reported mpox cases involve children. The adult male population, making up 63% of cases, predominantly carries the clade 1b strain, which can be transmitted sexually. Meanwhile, Mauritius has confirmed its first case of mpox, and the UK has reported its first clade 1b case in an individual who had traveled to an area impacted by the disease. The overall number of mpox cases across the continent has surged, with a total increase of 2,766 cases in a week, primarily concentrated in the DRC and Burundi. Vaccination efforts are ongoing, with nearly 900,000 doses distributed across nine countries; however, Nigeria has recently postponed its vaccination campaign. In Rwanda, four new cases of Marburg virus have been reported over the last two weeks, including a health worker and three contacts of previously confirmed cases. This uptick has sadly been accompanied by two recent deaths. In total, Rwanda has reported 66 cases of Marburg, with a case-fatality ratio of approximately 23%. The outbreak’s origins have been traced back to fruit bats located in a mine near Kigali, where the first identified case had visited. Approximately 6,000 individuals have undergone testing for the virus, with nearly 1,600 frontline healthcare workers vaccinated. To combat the Marburg outbreak more effectively, the Sabine Vaccine Institute has dispatched an additional 1,000 investigational vaccines to Rwanda. These vaccines will be utilized within a randomized clinical trial framework. In a notable deviation from prior protocols, Rwanda has chosen to vaccinate all participants in this trial immediately rather than using a control group to ascertain vaccine efficacy. The trial will involve around 1,000 individuals identified as at-risk, including mine workers, who will receive the vaccine in a one-to-one randomization protocol. The endeavor aims to administer half of the doses immediately and the other half 21 days later, coinciding with the end of the virus’s incubation period. While designed to mitigate illness prior to exposure, it is imperative to note that the clinical benefit of Sabin’s Marburg vaccine remains unproven.
The concerns regarding mpox and Marburg virus outbreaks in Uganda and Rwanda highlight significant public health challenges faced by the African region. Mpox, which is caused by the mpox virus and shares similarities with smallpox, has seen an uptick in cases, emphasizing the need for intensified surveillance, vaccination, and health education efforts. At the same time, the Marburg virus, a highly infectious pathogen associated with severe hemorrhagic fever, poses its own threats, prompting swift responses from health authorities and international organizations. The interplay between these outbreaks underscores the importance of coordinated health interventions and resource distribution across the region.
The emergence of mpox in Uganda and the persistent challenges posed by the Marburg virus in Rwanda necessitate immediate and concerted public health responses. With substantial percentages of cases being reported in specific demographics and concerning mortality rates, health officials must enhance preventive measures and vaccination campaigns. Continuous monitoring and rapid response strategies are essential to mitigate the impacts of these outbreaks and to safeguard public health for vulnerable populations in both countries.
Original Source: healthpolicy-watch.news
