South Sudan declares mpox outbreak

Juba, 7 February 2025—Today the Ministry of Neatly being has declared a mpox outbreak in Juba, Central Equatoria Order. This declaration follows a confirmation mpox Case by the Nationwide Public Neatly being Laboratory on 6 February 2025.

“The first case used to be reported on 6 February 2025 at Gudele Clinic from a Ugandan nationwide and a resident of Kupuri Camp in Juba. The confirmed case is below isolation and is being managed at Gudele Clinic”, mentioned the Performing Neatly being Minister, Honorable James Hoth Mai, in a press convention in Juba. 
A physique of workers of consultants from nationwide and subnational phases, WHO, and varied partners had been mobilized to behavior an intensive discipline investigation, listing all contacts, and guarantee shut be conscious-up, Hon. Mai added.

He furthermore added that the Ministry of Neatly being and WHO have taken steps to administration the reported case properly, guaranteeing that each and every contact on the ground is adopted. He assured the residents no longer to apprehension nonetheless to quit mild and be conscious safety measures that the govt. is committed to stopping the unfold of mpox in South Sudan.

Addressing the click convention, Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Nation Manual in South Sudan, commended the Ministry of Neatly being for declaring the outbreak. The announcement permits the public to steal prevention measures, helps health partners steal the obligatory steps to dangle the outbreak, and unlocks the obligatory sources for combating the outbreak. The confirmation of mpox in South Sudan showcases the nationwide capabilities that WHO is proud to have enormously supported, mentioned Dr Karamagi.

With this outbreak, South Sudan becomes the Twenty 2d nation to be affected in the African dwelling. After this confirmation, my physique of workers will again the referral of the sure sample to WHO-collaborating laboratories for sequencing and genetic characterization of the Mpox virus detected in the nation.

Dr Karamagi further reiterated WHO’s dedication to helping the South Sudanese govt and partners in bettering illness surveillance, making improvements to response coordination, and guaranteeing the availability of gives. This entails supporting case administration, laboratory testing, sample collection, transportation, and be conscious-up.
“On account of funding from our donors, WHO deployed consultants and supplied technical and logistical again,” mentioned Dr Karamagi.

With the again of WHO, the Ministry has activated the Public Neatly being Emergency Operations Heart and ready to coordinate responses to Mpox outbreaks, following the WHO pointers. An Incident Manager and key health officers had been assigned to display screen 5 foremost entry aspects into South Sudan for suspected Mpox instances from high-threat neighboring international locations worship the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, and Kenya. All healthcare companies, including those in deepest apply, are receiving practising on recognizing and responding to Mpox symptoms. We are rising a laboratory network and have examined samples from 141 suspected instances. Serene testing ideas had been applied, guaranteeing factual outcomes via external quality checks. Contemporary tests showed a 100% success rate, and our laboratory excelled in proficiency assessments. Moreover, 40 clinicians have bought practising in Mpox case administration to make certain efficient drugs and bolster our readiness for any conceivable Mpox outbreaks in South Sudan.

The Hon. Minister furthermore entreated the communities to spend real and safe behaviors, such as fending off shut contact with an contaminated particular person, the utilization of deepest protective equipment when caring for patients, no longer sharing bedding, clothing, towels, or utensils with unwell folks, practising hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, isolate contaminated patients, steer a long way from contact with wild animals and cook all food containing contemporary animal meat before drinking.