In the past 24 hours, Uganda has confirmed 11 new Mpox cases, bringing the total to 164 cases since the outbreak began, with a case fatality ratio (CFR) of 0.6%. Among the confirmed cases, 13 patients are being moved to treatment units across districts including Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Kasese, and Wakiso. Tragically, one death has been recorded. Several districts, such as Adjumani, Kabale, and Mbarara, continue to host active admissions as health authorities ramp up efforts to control the outbreak. For further details, refer to the WHO Mpox Outbreak Situation Update from October 21, 2024.

Read more from WHO Mpox Outbreak in Uganda situation update of 21 October 2024 on this link . 

Read EAC calls for heightened public awareness to combat spread of Mpox on this link .

Rwanda has reported no new Marburg virus infections or deaths for nearly a week, according to the country’s health minister.

Speaking to reporters in Kigali, Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana confirmed that there has been no "community transmission" of the virus. He emphasized that all positive cases so far have come from known contacts of infected individuals.

Nsanzimana highlighted that the last six days have seen no new cases or fatalities, attributing the control of the outbreak to the effective identification and isolation of those exposed. This, he noted, is crucial in halting the spread of haemorrhagic fevers like Marburg. See latest updates from Rwanda Ministry of Health on this link . 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 4.5 billion people worldwide lack access to essential healthcare services. Amidst global health challenges, more than 100,000 mpox cases and 200 deaths have been confirmed, and outbreaks of cholera and other diseases are escalating. A report predicts climate change could cause 14.5 million additional deaths by 2050 and impose a $1.1 trillion burden on healthcare systems. Experts warn that global preparedness remains inadequate, with lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic largely unlearned. Read more from this report by Al Jazeera.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the mitigation measures taken to limit its spread have significantly disrupted other essential health services in Africa. This disruption has threatened the control of major high-burden diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria as well as the prevention of maternal and child mortality.

While the 2020 WHO global reports for HIV, TB, and malaria show progress in control of these diseases in African countries, there are still significant gaps in meeting the global targets. Similarly, modeling studies predict that most African countries are unlikely to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 targets for reductions in maternal and child mortality under the current rate of progress.

Prediction models and emerging empirical data indicate that the implemented mitigation measures against COVID-19 such as travel restrictions and lockdowns as well as the repurposing of health resources and suspension of prevention programs such as immunizations will lead to an increase in new infections and deaths, significantly reversing the gains achieved in the control of these health challenges.

A more comprehensive COVID-19 response that minimizes indirect deaths is therefore warranted in Africa. These include implementing WHO recommendations that limit contact with the clinic where possible, such as multimonths drug dispensing, self-testing, virtual platforms for case management, community- and home-based prevention, and care services such as home distribution of test kits, vaccines, treatment, and mosquito nets.

This is in addition to ensuring effective implementation of COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities including providing healthcare workers with personal protective equipment and prioritizing them for COVID-19 immunization.

There is also a need to incorporate aggressive recovery plans to reverse the lost gains in disease control efforts and put African countries back on course toward achieving the global targets. This includes leveraging on the wider COVID-19 response enablements such as the increased political will and global solidarity funding efforts to support a more comprehensive response that accounts for the indirect public health effects of the pandemic.

Read full paper here .