South Sudan Remains Monkeypox-Free, Health Ministry Reassures Public
By Denilson Deneki
In a recent press conference, Hon. Dr. Yolanda Awel Deng, the Minister for Health in South Sudan, made a reassuring announcement that no confirmed cases of Monkeypox (Mpox) have been detected in the country. Despite some suspect cases being recorded, extensive testing in laboratories has shown that out of the 25 cumulative suspected cases, 17 are pending confirmation while 8 have tested negative.
Dr. Deng highlighted the distribution of the suspected cases, stating, “17 cases samples were collected around W.E.S, 5 cases in Northern Barh El Ghazal state, 1 case in Renk, Upper Nile state, and 2 cases collected today in Juba, CES. All these cases are suspected cases awaiting confirmation.”
Monkeypox, declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO), has seen a rise in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighboring countries. While the DRC has recorded the highest number of cases, other neighboring countries reporting cases include Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Given South Sudan’s proximity to these affected areas, the Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation and taking preventive measures to protect the population.
The Ministry encourages individuals experiencing symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and rash to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health facility. Preventive measures advised by the Ministry include avoiding close contact with infected persons, using personal protective equipment, practicing hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, and avoiding contact with wild animals.
Reiterating that there are no confirmed cases of Monkeypox in South Sudan, the Ministry urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases promptly. The reassurance comes as the nation prepares and strengthens its response mechanisms to address any potential threat of a Monkeypox outbreak.
For further information or to report suspected cases, the public can contact the Toll-Free line 6666 provided by the Ministry of Health.
