Western Equatoria records 19 Mpox cases since outbreak

2026-03-17 - 09:16

Western Equatoria State has recorded a total of 19 positive Mpox cases since the outbreak began, with one new case confirmed in Yambio County, the Ministry of Health said on Tuesday. Laboratory tests conducted in Juba on 41 suspected cases from Yambio, Ezo, and Tambura counties found one new positive and eleven negatives. The results of the remaining samples are still awaited. Of the confirmed cases, Yambio now has seven, Ezo six, and Tambura six. Health authorities warn that more results are expected later this week as testing continues. “The case of Mpox increased only by one positive case in Yambio. Some samples are still in the national laboratory, and we expect more information later this week,” said James Abdalla Arona, the state health minister. Residents are urged to remain vigilant, report suspected symptoms promptly, and follow hygiene protocols to prevent further spread of the disease.