Urgent Action Needed: Mpox (Monkey Pox) Declared a Global Health Emergency—Let's Protect Our Communities Together

Introduction: Mpox (monkeypox) is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus. Common symptoms include a skin rash or mucosal lesions that can last 2–4 weeks, along with fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. The rash begins as a flat sore, developing into a blister filled with liquid, which may be itchy or painful. As the rash heals, the lesions dry up, crust over, and eventually fall off. Some people may have only a few skin lesions, while others may have hundreds. These can appear anywhere on the body.

People with mpox can become very sick. The skin can become infected with bacteria, leading to abscesses or serious skin damage. Other complications include pneumonia, corneal infection with potential loss of vision, pain or difficulty swallowing, vomiting, diarrhea causing severe dehydration or malnutrition, sepsis, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), heart (myocarditis), rectum (proctitis), genital organs (balanitis), urinary passages (urethritis), or even death. Persons with immune suppression due to medication or medical conditions are at higher risk of serious illness and death due to mpox. People living with HIV, particularly if untreated or poorly controlled, are more likely to develop severe disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the surge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring countries in Africa as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). With over 15,600 cases and 537 deaths already reported this year, the threat is real and growing. The new strain of mpox spreading from Congo appears to have a death rate of about 3-4%. As of 28 July 2024, there are 2 confirmed cases and 6 suspected cases in Uganda.

The Rising Threat in Our Region: Mpox, particularly the newly identified clade 1b, is spreading rapidly across several African countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi. This virus has moved swiftly, and experts fear that the true number of cases could be much higher than reported. We cannot afford to wait—immediate and decisive action is required to protect our communities.

Spread and Risk Factors: Mpox can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with someone who is infectious, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals. Person-to-person transmission can occur through direct contact with infectious skin or other lesions, including those in the mouth or on the genitals (which can be transferred during sex). The virus enters the body through broken skin, mucosal surfaces (e.g., oral, pharyngeal, ocular, genital, anorectal), or via the respiratory tract. Mpox can be prevented by avoiding physical contact with someone who has mpox, and vaccination can help prevent infection in people at risk.

If you have mpox:

• Inform anyone you have been in close contact with recently.
• Stay at home until all scabs fall off and a new layer of skin forms.
• Cover lesions and wear a well-fitting mask when around others.
• Avoid physical contact.
• Get vaccinated with the smallpox vaccine (limited availability in Africa).

Prevention and Control Measures: Preventing the spread of mpox requires vigilance and collective effort. The Ministry of Health recommends avoiding close contact with infected individuals, refraining from touching contaminated items, and steering clear of wild animals known to carry the virus, such as rats, squirrels, mice, and monkeys, by avoiding the consumption of wild animal meat. Vaccination remains a key preventive measure, particularly for high-risk groups such as health workers and individuals with multiple sexual partners.

Healthy Entrepreneurs can play a key role in preventing the spread of mpox by:

• Informing Community Health Entrepreneurs (CHEs) about the outbreak and equipping them to educate the community, recognize the disease, and refer patients.
• Encouraging people to maintain distance from one another and keep surfaces clean.
• Promoting handwashing with soap and disinfectant.
• Distributing condoms, as the virus can spread sexually.
• Encouraging the wearing of masks.
• Assisting with vaccination efforts if they become available (pending CDC declaration).

Collaboration for a Safer Future: We call on all community members, health workers, and local leaders to join us in this effort. Report any suspected cases immediately, follow recommended preventive measures, and support one another during this critical time. Together, we can prevent the further spread of mpox and protect the health and well-being of our communities.

Conclusion: As Healthy Entrepreneurs, we remain dedicated to our mission of safeguarding public health. Our coordinated response to the mpox outbreak is essential to controlling this threat and ensuring the safety of everyone. Let’s act swiftly and decisively to bring this outbreak to an end.