Responding to an Mpox Outbreak in South Sudan

South Sudan has faced incredible adversity in recent years: political violence, natural disaster, widespread food insecurity, and a deadly cholera outbreak. Still, resilience endures, and hope remains. Through every hardship, CMMB is committed to bringing love and compassion to South Sudan’s most vulnerable people. When an Mpox outbreak began in Western Equatoria State, the trusted relationships we’ve forged over the past 17 years made it possible for us to respond quickly. So did the generosity of our donors. Thanks to their investment in our mission, we collaborated with international and local authorities to quickly combat the spread of a disease that causes intense suffering, and sometimes death.  

We’re grateful to share the impact of our response and introduce you to two of the lives your generosity touched.

A Rapid Response, Grounded in Experience   

Civil unrest and natural disasters can accelerate the spread of disease. In 2025, cases of Mpox were first reported in Central Equatoria State. By February 2026, our South Sudan team began to see an uptick in Mpox cases expanding into other areas of the country.

An Mpox outbreak is an emergency. The highly contagious viral illness causes a skin rash or lesions that can last for weeks, with additional symptoms like fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. It is typically transmitted through close contact or contaminated items. In some cases, the virus may be fatal, especially for pregnant women and newborns and those with undiagnosed or treated HIV.

Our actions were grounded in our experience responding to disease outbreaks in South Sudan, including the ongoing cholera epidemic and a yellow fever outbreak in 2023. CMMB quickly mobilized to treat Mpox patients, prevent further spread, and protect health workers.

We established an isolation center at Yambio State Hospital in collaboration with the government, an important step to provide affected patients with dignified care, while slowing Mpox’s spread. We also delivered essential medications and other supportive care resources to the facility. Equipped and supported health workers can halt outbreaks, so we shared personal protective equipment and training on Mpox symptoms and treatment.

Case management continues as a critical function of our response. Especially early on, our team tracked where Mpox was spreading rapidly and coordinated community surveillance and contact tracing campaigns to quickly identify infected individuals before they spread the disease to others. And since disease outbreaks often cause fear and uncertainty, we armed families with knowledge, including prevention tips and the importance of seeking prompt care if symptoms began.

Our ability to respond quickly is thanks to the giving spirit of our donors. For Faiza and Lucy, your support helped them return to good health.

Faiza’s Story

Faiza, 27, is four months pregnant and has a nine-month-old baby, so it’s not unusual for her to feel tired. But the wave of exhaustion she felt in early March as she worked in her garden was different. It also came with chills and intense itchiness. Soon, Faiza received a frightening diagnosis: she had Mpox. Not long after, her nine-month-old started showing symptoms, too.

Faiza felt overwhelmed. The Mpox rashes were painful to endure, especially combined with the physical demands of her second trimester. She struggled to make it through the day. But then, help arrived. A CMMB-supported medical team stepped in to provide Faiza with supportive home care and medications to manage her pain. We connected her family with resources to care for her infant’s health, too.

As she recovered from her illness, Faiza worried about her pregnancy. CMMB’s team reassured her, checking on her and her baby regularly to make sure everything was progressing smoothly. Thanks to CMMB, Faiza had support through a vulnerable time.

Lucy’s Story

Lucy is usually the one who takes care of everyone else. At 29, she is the chief nurse at St. Mary’s Children’s Home and the mother of four young children, important callings that require her constant time and attention. But when she and others in her household became ill with Mpox, she found that she was the one who needed help.

CMMB was there for her. CMMB’s home-based care team provided dedicated medical care and consistent monitoring. A weight was lifted from Lucy’s shoulders as our team showed her and her family a pathway back to good health.

Now, Lucy’s family has nearly recovered. CMMB remains at her side, continuing to monitor them closely. Soon, Lucy will return to nurturing her children and those entrusted to her. Because of you, care was close by when Lucy needed it the most.

Your Generosity Made a Difference

In a moment of crisis, CMMB delivered immediate access to healthcare. Your impact can be seen in the better health of people like Faiza, Lucy, and many others.

Thank you for your support. We will continue to protect families from disease and safeguard the health workers who risk their well-being to give their communities hope for a healthier future.