Adjumani on high alert over Cholera and Mpox cases
Screening of new arrivals of asylum seekers at the Elegu border reception centre in Adjumani. PHOTO | MARKO TAIBOT
What you need to know:
- The latest cholera case was registered on November 25, while Mpox cases have been under surveillance since October.
The Adjumani District Health Department has confirmed three cases of cholera and two cases of Mpox, raising concern about disease outbreaks among refugees and local communities.
The latest cholera case was registered on November 25, while Mpox cases have been under surveillance since October.
Cholera outbreak details
The District Surveillance Officer, Mr Paul Olony, told the Monitor on Tuesday that the first cholera case was confirmed on November 18, 2024, with subsequent testing identifying a 50 per cent positivity rate among suspected cases.
"We are screening asylum seekers at the Elegu border reception centre, Nyumanzi refugee settlement, and high-volume health facilities. The Central Public Health Laboratory confirmed the cholera cases," Olony explained.
The overcrowding at the Nyumanzi reception centre, currently housing 1,400 people despite a capacity of only 750, is a significant concern for health officials.
Mpox cases on the rise
Since October, Adjumani has recorded 54 cumulative suspected cases of Mpox, with two confirmed. Health officials are conducting surveillance and screening efforts to manage the outbreak.
Adjumani Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr Peter Taban Data emphasised the district’s commitment to controlling the spread of these diseases.
"We have stationed health teams at border points to screen new arrivals. Suspected cases are quarantined, and samples are tested in Kampala. If confirmed, patients are transferred to treatment centers," he said.
He said psychosocial support teams and health educators have been deployed to raise public awareness about cholera and Mpox.
District Health Officer (DHO), Dr. Dominic Drametu, reassured the public that the situation is under control.
"These are not local infections. All cases are from outside Uganda, and with support from the Ministry of Health, we are managing all confirmed cases," Drametu stated.
Adjumani’s proximity to South Sudan makes it vulnerable to cross-border infections. The South Sudan Ministry of Health declared a cholera outbreak in Upper Nile State’s Renk County on October 28, 2024, with six confirmed cases reported.
The Adjumani District Health Department, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and international partners, continues to: Intensify screening at border points and refugee settlements, enhance health education campaigns to raise awareness of disease prevention, and ensure proper management and treatment of confirmed cases.
