In Uganda a new epidemic alert system is helping fight mpox
July 28, 2025
In Uganda’s Wakiso District, frontline health workers like Edith Nalunga are redefining outbreak response. Using a simple SMS-based alert system, Nalunga rapidly responds to suspected mpox cases, blending community education with public health surveillance. Her recent field visit—prompted by code “6767”—underscores how localized knowledge and empathy strengthen containment efforts. As Uganda battles 7,400 confirmed mpox cases and 44 deaths since July 2024, Nalunga’s approach exemplifies the essential role of grassroots health systems. Public awareness, not just isolation, remains the linchpin of successful prevention. Her work reminds us: epidemic control begins not in labs—but at the doorsteps of vulnerable families.
In Uganda’s Wakiso District, the battle against mpox is being fought not only in clinics but through the determination of frontline community health workers like Edith Nalunga. Armed with a basic phone and a deep sense of duty, Nalunga responds to public health alerts—like code “6767” for suspected mpox—delivered via Uganda’s early warning system. Her response to a suspected case involving two young boys illustrates the critical role of integrated surveillance and compassionate care in outbreak containment.
With 7,404 confirmed mpox cases and 44 deaths reported since July 2024, Uganda is navigating a complex public health emergency. Nalunga, stationed at Nabweru Health Centre III, partners with Village Health Team members like Hadijah Namagembe to investigate symptoms, provide care, and—most importantly—educate families. At one recent household, she determined that the boys’ mild symptoms did not warrant sample collection or isolation, reflecting WHO’s guidance that mild mpox cases can be managed at home.
Yet, this encounter highlights more than case confirmation. It reveals how public trust and knowledge are essential in halting viral spread. “Public awareness is the biggest healthcare gap,” Nalunga notes. Her story—driven by the loss of her sister to tuberculosis—is a testament to the transformative power of preventive medicine.
Nicholas Bamulasa, the lead at Nabweru Health Centre III, affirms Nalunga’s impact, praising her as the facility’s lead for surveillance and educator for clinical staff. According to Ministry of Health official Dr. Misaki Wayengera, mpox is no longer just a viral outbreak—it is a community disease. Nalunga embodies this shift, using surveillance not as a detached process, but as a vehicle for dialogue, dignity, and community resilience.
Uganda’s response offers a compelling model: real-time alerts, home-based care, and empowered workers capable of containing epidemics before they overwhelm formal systems.