Hoima city records six new mpox cases
Three of these cases have been admitted at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital and the other three are receiving treatment from their homes.
Health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, recently urged the public to exercise responsibility. (File photo)
NewVision Reporter
@NewVision
_____________________
Health authorities in Uganda's western city of Hoima are concerned over the increasing number of mpox cases.
The city's surveillance officer, Wilfred Ndozireho, said six new cases have been recorded.
Three of these cases have been admitted at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital and the other three are receiving treatment from their homes.
Ndozireho said that as of Tuesday (February 11), 29 mpox cases had been confirmed in Hoima city since the first case was detected on November 2, 2024 resulting in 23 recoveries and six admissions.
The most affected people in Hoima have been found to be sexually active and between the ages of 21 and 45.
In fact, 80% of the cases have disclosed suspecting having caught mpox through sexual intercourse.
'Remember the basics'
Ndozireho identified places like Freedom Area in the middle of Hoima city, Kyesiiga, Mparo and Buswekera as hotspots of mpox.
He appealed to Hoima city residents to continue adhering to standard operating procedures to combat the spread of the disease.
Mpox is spread through direct physical contact, such as sexual contact and kissing, with an infected person, according to World Health Organization (WHO) experts.
As Uganda tries to control the outbreak, which will be endemic for a while, health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng recently urged the public to exercise responsibility.
“Please remember the basics: wash hands, do not share clothings, and avoid irresponsible sexual activity,” she warned in an earlier interview.
How you can tell
A zoonotic viral disease, mpox is also transmitted from animals to humans through handling or consuming infected animals such as squirrels, rats, mice and monkeys.
Infected pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers can pass on the virus to their unborn babies or new born babies by close contact during and after birth.
It can also be passed on through inhalation of droplets from infected individuals with nasal involvement or exposure to respiratory droplets from an infected person.
Another way is contact with contaminated materials such as bedding, clothing or needles that have been used by an infected person.