Rwanda ‘well-prepared’ to handle mpox outbreak, says health official

Rwanda stepped up its epidemic response after two cases of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) were confirmed in the country on Saturday, July 27. According to officials, this is the first time the mpox virus has been confirmed in Rwanda. ALSO READ: DR Congo detects at least 25 mpox cases in Goma Rwanda confirmed the outbreak less than two weeks after neighbouring DR Congo confirmed 25 cases in the border city of Goma. “Rwanda is well-prepared to handle a potential mpox outbreak, leveraging our experience and systems developed during previous health challenges like COVID-19,” said Dr Edson Rwagasore, the Division Manager of Public Health Surveillance and Emergency Preparedness and Response at Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), Rwandans are advised to take precautions to avoid the spread of the viral infection. He said mpox is a disease that is contagious but that can still be prevented. The disease can also be deadly. Rwagasore highlighted that the identification and isolation of the two cases of mpox within a short period of time demonstrated that the response systems are functioning effectively. Dr Rwagasore said one of the key aspects of Rwanda’s pandemic preparedness is a robust tracking system across health facilities, points of entry, and communities, which was pivotal during the Covid pandemic. He added that community health workers play a crucial role in this network, enabling early detection and rapid response to potential cases. “We have trained multisectoral rapid response teams at both national and district levels. These teams stand ready for immediate mobilisation should an outbreak occur,” he said. ALSO READ: New mpox strain in DR Congo 'most dangerous yet' – reports Rwagasore noted that a person infected with mpox begins to exhibit symptoms between two and 19 days after exposure. Symptoms include common symptoms such as rash, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. Dr Rwagasore stressed that people with the symptoms of mpox should seek medical attention immediately and inform authorities about anyone they may have exposed to the disease. Preventive measures include avoiding physical contact with individuals showing symptoms, refraining from sexual intercourse with those exhibiting signs of mpox, not touching their personal belongings, and practicing thorough handwashing with soap and clean water. ALSO READ: WHO renames monkeypox as 'mpox' Advanced response systems Dr Rwagasore also said that the Ministry of Health and RBC’s experience with COVID-19 and Ebola preparedness have significantly enhanced their overall capacity to respond to outbreaks. He noted that the systems and protocols they developed are adaptable to various health emergencies and that substantial investments in laboratory capabilities have also boosted the country's preparedness. “We can now quickly test and confirm diseases using advanced methods, including genomic sequencing, which is crucial for effective outbreak management,” Dr Rwagasore said. “While we remain vigilant, these measures give us confidence in our ability to manage potential health challenges, including mpox. We continue to monitor the situation closely and adapt our strategies as needed to ensure the health and safety of all Rwandans.” He said that the current outbreak in the region has a low case fatality ratio based on the number of deaths and admissions recorded as of July 27. “This is the right time to educate Rwandans about the mpox virus. Informing the public is an important step in our health strategy,” he noted. “We are launching awareness campaigns to help everyone understand what mpox is and how it spreads, the symptoms to watch out for, simple prevention measures we can all take and what to do if a person suspects they have been exposed to the infection,” he noted. Dr Rwagasore added that people should no panic. He said that by working together and staying informed, the communities can be protected. Availability of vaccines Dr Rwagasore said that there are vaccines approved for prevention of the mpox virus which are recommended for close contacts of mpox cases and high-risk groups. Some of these vaccines are already available and others are still under clinical trials, he added. In December 2022, the DR Congo declared an outbreak of mpox and an incident management system has been in place since February 2023, based on the increasing number of reported cases. Since September 2023, an outbreak of mpox in South Kivu province has spread to North Kivu. A new variant of clade I MPXV has been described in South Kivu.

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Rwanda ‘well-prepared’ to handle mpox outbreak, says health official