South Sudan declares mpox outbreak

Juba, 7 February 2025—Recently the Ministry of Health has declared a mpox outbreak in Juba, Central Equatoria Converse. This declaration follows a affirmation mpox Case by the National Public Health Laboratory on 6 February 2025.

“The first case used to be reported on 6 February 2025 at Gudele Health center from a Ugandan nationwide and a resident of Kupuri Camp in Juba. The confirmed case is under isolation and is being managed at Gudele Health center”, talked about the Acting Health Minister, Honorable James Hoth Mai, in a press convention in Juba. 
A team of experts from nationwide and subnational phases, WHO, and other companions had been mobilized to habits a detailed area investigation, checklist all contacts, and fetch obvious shut observe-up, Hon. Mai added.

He also added that the Ministry of Health and WHO possess taken steps to manage the reported case properly, guaranteeing that every contact on the floor is adopted. He assured the voters not to disaster nonetheless to cease easy and observe security features that the government is dedicated to stopping the unfold of mpox in South Sudan.

Addressing the clicking convention, Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Country Marketing consultant in South Sudan, recommended the Ministry of Health for declaring the outbreak. The announcement permits the public to take hold of prevention measures, helps successfully being companions take hold of the needed steps to possess the outbreak, and unlocks the needed resources for combating the outbreak. The affirmation of mpox in South Sudan showcases the nationwide capabilities that WHO is proud to possess deal supported, talked about Dr Karamagi.

With this outbreak, South Sudan becomes the twenty 2d nation to be affected within the African articulate. After this affirmation, my team will strengthen the referral of the certain sample to WHO-participating laboratories for sequencing and genetic characterization of the Mpox virus detected within the nation.

Dr Karamagi further reiterated WHO’s commitment to helping the South Sudanese govt and companions in bettering illness surveillance, bettering response coordination, and guaranteeing the provision of offers. This entails supporting case management, laboratory testing, sample sequence, transportation, and observe-up.
“As a consequence of funding from our donors, WHO deployed experts and supplied technical and logistical strengthen,” talked about Dr Karamagi.

With the strengthen of WHO, the Ministry has activated the Public Health Emergency Operations Heart and ready to coordinate responses to Mpox outbreaks, following the WHO guidelines. An Incident Manager and key successfully being officers had been assigned to visual display unit five predominant entry system into South Sudan for suspected Mpox circumstances from high-concern neighboring international locations look after the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, and Kenya. All healthcare suppliers, including those in deepest observe, are receiving coaching on recognizing and responding to Mpox symptoms. We’re developing a laboratory community and possess tested samples from 141 suspected circumstances. Fresh testing suggestions had been implemented, guaranteeing upright results thru external quality tests. Most modern tests showed a 100% success rate, and our laboratory excelled in proficiency assessments. Furthermore, 40 clinicians possess got coaching in Mpox case management to fetch obvious effective treatment and bolster our readiness for any doable Mpox outbreaks in South Sudan.

The Hon. Minister also informed the communities to observe comely and guarded behaviors, comparable to avoiding shut contact with an contaminated person, the utilization of private maintaining instruments when caring for patients, not sharing bedding, clothing, towels, or utensils with sick americans, working in opposition to hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, isolate contaminated patients, protect far flung from contact with wild animals and cook dinner all meals containing contemporary animal meat earlier than eating.