The Ugandan health ministry has confirmed two more cases of mpox virus infections, bringing the total number of cases in the east African country to four.
The health ministry director general, Henry Mwebesa had told Reuters that the two new confirmed cases had been infected with the clade 1b strain of the virus –a new offshoot that has triggered global concern.
The World Health Organization had declared the recent outbreak of the disease a public health emergency after the new variant, which apparently spread more easily between individuals was identified.
Recall that the health authorities in Uganda had initially reported an outbreak of the disease in the country on July 24 when lab tests of samples from two tested patients at a hospital near the border with Democratic Republic of Congo came back positive for Mpox virus.
These two latest cases were confirmed this week, according to a statement by the health ministry spokesperson, Emmanuel Ainebyoona who said that one of the patients was a truck driver. He had however, not given the details of the second patient.
The two patients were isolated at a hospital at Entebbe, Kampala.
Mpox infections cause flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, and are easily transmitted through close physical contact. Although the disease is usually mild, it can be fatal.
Uganda borders Congo, where the current outbreak began in January 2023.
