Arua City is intensifying its sensitization efforts in areas along the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after six additional cases of Mpox were reported. This comes just one week after eight cases were recorded on March 11.
Alias Mahmud, the Health Sub-District Surveillance Officer for Arua City, told journalists on Monday that one of the main contributors to the rising cases of Mpox is the high number of illegal border crossings between Uganda and the DRC.
Arua City, located in Uganda’s northwestern region, shares close economic and social ties with communities in both the DRC and South Sudan. This has led to frequent movements of traders, families, and refugees across borders, many of which occur through unmonitored entry points. This makes it difficult for health authorities to effectively track and contain potential Mpox cases.
According to security personnel in West Nile, there are at least 360 illegal border entry points spanning from Koboko to Zombo district, which people use to cross between Uganda and the DRC. Some of these points are also used by individuals traveling to and from South Sudan.
The new cases were recorded in Arua City’s Central and Ayivu divisions, bringing the total number of confirmed Mpox cases in the city to 34. These new infections have raised the positivity rate of Mpox in the area to 52.3%, up from the previous 45.5%. This suggests that more than half of those tested have turned out to be positive for the virus.
In the same week, 58 contacts of the infected individuals were identified, increasing the total number of contacts to 280 since the virus was first detected in the city. Mahmud noted that half of those who tested positive were direct contacts of earlier cases.
The rise in Mpox cases has prompted health authorities to hold regular taskforce meetings, which have helped secure support from partners to conduct community dialogues aimed at raising awareness. Mahmud urged the public to report any suspected cases of Mpox, as many people are still misdiagnosing the disease as chickenpox or measles, which contributes to the continued spread of the virus.
Mpox, caused by a viral infection, presents flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, and rashes, which can persist for weeks. Arua City first received an alert about Mpox on November 29, 2024, with the first confirmed case appearing on December 4, 2024.
