The Ministry of Health Uganda, via its X account, announced a robust response to the ongoing Mpox outbreak, launching a targeted vaccination campaign on February 1, 2025, to curb the virus’s spread. With 1,712 confirmed cases and 10 deaths reported since July 2024, the Ministry is prioritizing high-risk groups, including healthcare workers, sex workers, and close contacts of infected individuals.
The campaign, supported by 10,000 vaccine doses donated by the U.S. through Africa CDC, focuses on 71 affected districts, with the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area accounting for 73% of cases. The Ministry’s X updates detailed enhanced surveillance and public awareness efforts, training over 2,700 teachers in high-risk areas to educate students. Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng urged local governments to regulate high-risk settings like brothels and saunas, which fuel transmission.
Despite challenges, such as vaccine shortages and risky behaviors like casual sex, 18 districts, including Adjumani, have reported no new cases for six weeks. The Ministry’s proactive communication on X, coupled with a Shs5.87 trillion health budget, positions Uganda to control the outbreak by mid-2025, ensuring safety for travel and trade.
