A case of mpox has been confirmed at Nakasongola prison in central Uganda, according to a spokesperson for the prison service on Tuesday. The infected inmate has been isolated and is receiving treatment, with health officials closely monitoring the situation.
The World Health Organization declared mpox a global public health emergency again in August, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has since spread to Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi.
The emergence of the virus in Uganda’s overcrowded prison system raises concerns for authorities due to the disease’s potential to spread through close contact. While generally mild, mpox can occasionally be fatal. The virus typically presents flu-like symptoms along with pus-filled skin lesions.
Prison spokesperson Frank Baine noted that the infected prisoner, who is being held on murder charges, is not eligible for bail. Authorities believe the prisoner may have contracted the virus before his arrival at the facility, though investigations are ongoing.
To contain the outbreak, the prison is relying on protocols developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent data shows Uganda’s mpox cases have increased to 41, according to the Health Ministry.
The ministry secured 2,000 doses of mpox vaccines from the Africa CDC in September, but there has been no confirmation yet on the start of vaccinations. Meanwhile, neighboring Congo has already begun its vaccination efforts.
Ugandan health officials are also on alert for potential cross-border transmission of the Marburg virus from a current outbreak in Rwanda.
