The minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Monica Musenero, has said Uganda can manufacture vaccines for the Monkeypox virus, which is currently affecting several African nations.
Dr. Musenero was speaking at the recently concluded Interdisciplinary Consortium For Epidemic Research (ICER) symposium at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
The meeting brought together scientists, government officials, policymakers and academicians from around the world to share knowledge and find mechanisms of developing solutions for viruses.
“We have teams from both Africa and abroad. We are formulating a strategy to develop diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments for Monkeypox (Mpox), which has been declared a public health threat,” Musenero said.
Mpox is an infectious disease that can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain and low energy.
Most people fully recover, but some get very sick. It spreads from person to person mainly through close contact with someone who has Mpox, including members of a household. Close contact includes sex, kissing, and talking or breathing close to one another, which can generate infectious respiratory particles.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccines against Monkeypox are already available, with the WHO recommending the use of MVA-BN, LC16, or the ACAM2000 vaccine when the others are unavailable. WHO notes that these vaccines offer significant protection against infection and severe disease, with ongoing studies expected to provide more data on their effectiveness in different settings.
Kasule Lumumba, the minister for General Duties who represented Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja called upon scientists to find easier ways of disseminating information about disease outbreaks such that the general public can act on it.
She said the government is willing to fund projects related to the production of vaccines for viruses.