Health Minister Briefs Governor Jadalla on Mpox Situation, Calls for Vigilance

Juba – H.E. Gen. Augustino Jadalla Kamilo Wani, the Governor of Central Equatoria State on Tuesday was briefed by the State Minister of Health on suspected Monkey pox also known as Mpox cases within the State, particularly Juba County.

Speaking to the press after briefing the Governor, Hon. Najwa Juma Mursal the State Minister of Health said that she highlighted and briefed Governor Jadalla on the current situation of suspected cases of Mpox within Juba City.

The Minister said that, as of 18th August the State rapid response team from the Ministry of Health identified and collected samples of four suspected Mpox cases in Juba central prison and five suspected cases in Munuki Block (B) in Juba, adding the samples have been taken by the national Ministry of Health for examination.

“In Juba Central prison, four suspected cases of Mpox were identified and four samples were collected. In Munuki Block (B) south of Suk Libya, five suspected cases were identified in which four samples were collected and out of these five cases, one has died,” said Hon. Najwa.

“Currently, there is no confirmed case in Central Equatoria State as the samples are still pending testing at the National Public Health Laboratory,” Najwa said.

Hon. Najwa explained that Mpox is a viral infection that spreads through close contact with an infected person, contaminated surfaces, respiratory droplets and contact with infected animals such as rats and monkeys. Key symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue and a rash that can appear on the body.

Preventive measures against the disease include avoiding direct contacts with infected or suspected person, avoid direct contact with animals’ fluid from rats and monkeys, said Hon. Najwa.

She called on the public to immediately report any suspected cases to nearest health facility or call toll free number 6666.

She expressed the readiness of the State Ministry of Health in responding to any suspected case within the State while urging the public to be vigilant.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared the Mpox as a public health emergency of international concern as some cases are reported in some parts of Africa.