The Ministry of Education and Sports has sent a nationwide alert to all schools due to confirmed cases of Mpox in the country.
In light of this emergency, Ismael Mulindwa, the Director for Basic Education, emphasized the need for safety for both staff and students. He reminded everyone of the lessons learned from the past experiences with COVID-19 and Ebola.
Mulindwa mentioned that the Ministry of Education and Sports is working closely with health officials to create specific guidelines for schools. A detailed circular will be sent out in the coming days.
He urged schools to stay alert and suggested they follow safety measures similar to those used during the COVID-19 pandemic. These precautions include keeping a safe distance, sanitizing surfaces, and encouraging regular handwashing.
The Mpox outbreak was officially declared on July 24, 2024, after two cases were found in Kasese District, according to the Uganda Virus Research Institute. Since then, a total of 11 confirmed cases have been reported, but thankfully, there have been no deaths.
Mpox can cause symptoms such as fever, skin rashes, and swollen lymph nodes, and it spreads through close contact with infected people or contaminated materials.
This alert comes as students are returning to school for the new term, just before national exams. The COVID-19 pandemic had previously forced schools to close for 18 months in 2020.
On September 18, 2024, a 12-year-old girl from Sudan showed symptoms of Mpox at Nyumanzi HC II. Her tests came back positive after samples were collected and analyzed by the Central Emergency Response and Surveillance Laboratory.
An emergency meeting has been scheduled for September 20, 2024, with the Mpox District Taskforce Team set to respond to the situation.