Uganda's mpox caseload rises to 10, officials say

The number of mpox infections in Uganda has risen to 10 - and all of the patients have a strain of the virus, clade 1b, that is more transmissible between people, a health official says.

The country borders the Democratic Republic of Congo where the current outbreak began in January 2023, making Uganda a particular focus point for health officials.

The first two cases in Uganda were confirmed in July.

Henry Kyobe, who heads the government's mpox response effort, told Reuters on Saturday the country had 10 cases so far, with four of those patients still in isolation and six already treated and discharged.

"We are happy we have not recorded any fatality so far and we're confident we'll beat the outbreak," Kyobe said, adding they had conducted more than 200 tests of suspected patients.

The World Health Organisation declared the recent outbreak of the disease a public health emergency in mid-August after the new variant was identified.

Mpox causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions and is transmitted through close physical contact.

While usually mild, the disease can be fatal if left untreated.