East African Community Calls for Heightened Public Awareness on Mpox Outbreak
The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat has urged its partner states to educate their citizens on how to protect themselves and prevent the spread of Mpox, a viral infection that can be deadly. The call comes as reports indicate a new strain of the virus is spreading quickly along the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Burundi and DR Congo are experiencing an outbreak of the viral Mpox disease. The Burundian health ministry has confirmed three cases of Mpox in Bujumbura and Isare, with patients receiving treatment and showing improvement.
The EAC Deputy Secretary General, Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, emphasized the importance of taking preventive measures to minimize the spread of Mpox. “EAC partner states must provide necessary information about the disease and take preventive measures,” Malueth said. “Factual risk communication, community engagement, and enhanced surveillance are crucial steps to managing the disease.”
Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, was first discovered in monkeys in 1958 and was first reported in humans in 1970. The virus spreads from animals to humans and between people through close contact, contaminated objects, and respiratory droplets.
Symptoms of Mpox include a skin rash or lesions, fever, intense headache, muscle aches, back pain, general body weakness, and swollen lymph nodes, typically lasting two to four weeks. While most cases are moderate, severe cases and deaths can occur.
To reduce the risk of contracting Mpox, the public is advised to:
- Avoid contact with individuals diagnosed with the virus or those who may be infected
- Wear a face mask when in close contact with symptomatic individuals
- Use personal protective equipment when caring for confirmed or suspected cases
- Wash hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based sanitizers after contact with infected persons or animals
- Regularly wash clothing and bedsheets at high temperatures
- Ensure meat is thoroughly cooked before consumption
- Avoid contact with sick animals, particularly rodents and non-human primates, and refrain from handling bush meat
Individuals suspecting they may have contracted Mpox should self-isolate and seek medical advice immediately.
The EAC will convene a meeting of health experts to deliberate on the situation, while also having a pool of rapidly deployable experts ready to be deployed in areas of disease outbreaks. Additionally, the German Government’s development arm, GIZ, has supported the EAC in strengthening 10 border areas with DR Congo and other EAC partner states by providing handwashing facilities and health promotion activities to encourage protective health and hygiene behaviors.
This health and hygiene promotion initiative has reached 700,000 individuals, with the first phase of the WASH project in 2021-2022 reaching about five million people.
