Health officials in Adjumani District have instituted mandatory screening and heightened surveillance following confirmed cases of cholera and Mpox among refugees, raising concerns of a potential escalation into local communities.
The Adjumani District Health Department reported three cases of cholera and two of Mpox in recent months.
District Surveillance Officer Paul Olony revealed that the latest cholera case was confirmed on November 25, 2024, with a 50% positivity rate among suspected cases since the first case was recorded on November 18.
Mpox cases have been under surveillance since October, with 54 cumulative suspected cases recorded.
Overcrowding at the Nyumanzi Reception Centre, designed to accommodate 750 people but currently housing 1,400 refugees, has been identified as a critical factor. This congestion heightens the risk of disease transmission.
District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. Dominic Drametu assured the public that the situation is being managed.
“These are not local infections. All cases are from outside Uganda, and with support from the Ministry of Health, we have successfully managed all confirmed cases,” Drametu stated.
Health educators and psychosocial support teams have been deployed to raise awareness about cholera and Mpox, ensuring communities are informed on preventive measures.
Adjumani Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Peter Taban Data emphasised collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Health and international partners to curb the spread of the diseases.
“We have teams stationed at border points to screen individuals crossing into Uganda. Anyone displaying symptoms of cholera or Mpox is quarantined, with samples sent to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) for testing,” Taban explained.
Adjumani’s proximity to South Sudan adds to its vulnerability, especially after South Sudan’s Ministry of Health declared a cholera outbreak in Upper Nile State’s Renk County on October 28.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that Uganda hosts 1.74 million refugees as of September 2024. Of these, 55% are from South Sudan, 31% from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and smaller numbers from Somalia, Burundi, Sudan, and other nations.
West Nile districts like Obongi, Moyo, Yumbe, Koboko, and Arua, alongside Zombo, Nebbi, and Terego, are among the regions experiencing a high influx of refugees, particularly from war-torn Ituri Province in eastern DR Congo.
Health officials remain vigilant, emphasising community awareness, robust screening, and timely intervention to prevent a full-blown public health crisis.
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