The Lakes State Ministry of Health on Wednesday declared an outbreak of Mpox and said 57 inmates have so far been infected in various prisons in Rumbek East, Rumbek Central, and Cueibet counties.
Monkeypox (now referred to as Mpox) is a viral disease that causes a rash with blisters, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. It is usually mild, and most people recover within a few weeks without treatment. Mpox spreads through close contact with an infected person or animal, or with contaminated materials.
Maker Malok, the director general at the health ministry, told Radio Tamazuj that they initially suspected measles, but it was tested and found to be Mpox. He said health partners, including UNICEF, WHO, and CUAAM, have provided a tent to be used as an isolation unit for the infected patients at Rumbek Central Prison.
“The health ministry investigated 23 suspected cases of measles in Rumbek Central Prison, but it turned out to be Mpox after 8 samples were taken to Juba for testing,” he said. “Two samples turned out to be positive, and we officially declared Mpox in Lakes State as we keep on investigating more cases.”
“There are 48 cases in Rumbek Central Prison, and we noticed that the virus has spread to the prison in Rumbek East County, where there are 9 cases,” Malok added.
He said WHO and the national health ministry have sent tents that will be used to isolate patients at the prisons and urged the public to embrace and practice preventive measures.
“What we are fearing is that this disease is so contagious and it is passed on easily, so we have to trace all the infected inmates, those who came in contact with them, and even those who were released because they can go home and infect people,” Maolik said. “A patient should be free of the virus within 21 days if there are no more symptoms.”
Meanwhile, Daniel Laat, a civil society activist, attributed the spread of the disease to congestion in the prisons and urged organizations to carry out awareness campaigns about how to mitigate the spread of Mpox.
“The reason Mpox is spreading is because these detention facilities are congested,” he said. “Our people need to protect themselves because it can easily spread through hugging.”