Case Reports of Human Monkeypox Virus Infections, Uganda, 2024.

Mpox is a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus. We report on human mpox cases in Uganda identified by PCR and confirmed by deep sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis revealed clustering with other clade Ib sequences associated with recent outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Next-Generation Sequencing Reveals a High Frequency of HIV-1 Minority Variants and an Expanded Drug Resistance Profile among Individuals on First-Line ART.

We assessed the performance and clinical relevance of Illumina MiSeq next-generation sequencing (NGS) for HIV-1 genotyping compared with Sanger sequencing (SS). We analyzed 167 participants, 45 with virologic failure (VL ≥ 1000 copies/mL), i.e.

The 2023 South Sudanese outbreak of Hepatitis E emphasizes ongoing circulation of genotype 1 in North, Central, and East Africa.

In April 2023, an outbreak of acute hepatitis was reported amongst internally displaced persons in the Nazareth community of South Sudan. IgM serology-based screening suggested the likely etiologic agent to be Hepatitis E virus (HEV). In this study, plasma specimens collected from anti-HEV IgM-positive cases were subjected to additional RT-qPCR testing and sequencing of extracted nucleic acids, resulting in the recovery of five full and eight partial HEV genomes.

May Measurement Month 2021: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Uganda.

High blood pressure (BP) is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease in Uganda accounting for more than 50% of cardiovascular related deaths each year. In Uganda, more than 25% of adults have high BP with lack of awareness being the main barrier to achieving satisfactory control rates. May measurement month (MMM) is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of high BP and to act as a temporary solution to the lack of BP screening programmes.

Assessing Public Awareness of the Malaria Vaccine in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Malaria infection remains one of the leading causes of death in sub-Saharan Africa. Over the years, several measures have been implemented for the prevention of malaria, including vector control with insecticide-treated nets, indoor residual spraying, and seasonal or traveling prophylactics. In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) approved the use of the malaria vaccine in children.

HIV-1 drug resistance genotyping success rates and correlates of Dried-blood spots and plasma specimen genotyping failure in a resource-limited setting.

Background: HIV-1 drug resistance genotyping is critical to the monitoring of antiretroviral treatment. Data on HIV-1 genotyping success rates of different laboratory specimen types from multiple sources is still scarce.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we determined the laboratory genotyping success rates (GSR) and assessed the correlates of genotyping failure of 6837 unpaired dried blood spot (DBS) and plasma specimens.

High Levels of Acquired HIV Drug Resistance Following Virological Nonsuppression in HIV-Infected Women from a High-Risk Cohort in Uganda.

HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) is of increasing health concern, especially among key populations. We investigated the prevalence of virological suppression (VS), prevalence and correlates of HIVDR in HIV-infected women, enrolled in a high-risk cohort. We enrolled 267 women initiated on first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) between 2015 and 2018.

Rates of HIV-1 virological suppression and patterns of acquired drug resistance among fisherfolk on first-line antiretroviral therapy in Uganda.

Objectives: We examined virological outcomes, patterns of acquired HIV drug resistance (ADR), correlates of virological failure (VF) and acquired drug resistance among fisherfolk on first-line ART.

Methods: We enrolled 1169 adults on ART for a median duration of 6, 12, 24, 36 and ≥48 months and used a pooled VL testing approach to identify VF (VL ≥1000 copies/mL). We performed genotyping among VF cases and determined correlates of VF and ADR by logistic regression.

Trends of admissions and case fatality rates among medical in-patients at a tertiary hospital in Uganda; A four-year retrospective study.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa suffers from a dual burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases. There is limited data on causes and trends of admission and death among patients on the medical wards. Understanding the major drivers of morbidity and mortality would help inform health systems improvements.