Characteristics of pilgrims who sought medical care from medical tents during the Uganda Martyrs’ commemoration mass gathering, May 25–June 5, 2022.

Characteristics of pilgrims who sought medical care from medical tents during the Uganda Martyrs’ commemoration mass gathering, May 25–June 5, 2022.</p

Schema showing suspected priority diseases among pilgrims who sought medical care from medical tents during the Uganda Martyrs’ commemoration mass gathering, May 25–June 5, 2022.

Schema showing suspected priority diseases among pilgrims who sought medical care from medical tents during the Uganda Martyrs’ commemoration mass gathering, May 25–June 5, 2022.</p

Characteristics of pilgrims who participated in the survey during the Uganda Martyrs’ commemoration mass gathering, June 2–5, 2022.

Characteristics of pilgrims who participated in the survey during the Uganda Martyrs’ commemoration mass gathering, June 2–5, 2022.</p

Schema showing suspected priority diseases among pilgrims who participated in the survey during the Uganda Martyrs’ commemoration mass gathering, May 25–June 5, 2022.

Schema showing suspected priority diseases among pilgrims who participated in the survey during the Uganda Martyrs’ commemoration mass gathering, May 25–June 5, 2022.</p

Medical records.

Mass gatherings frequently include close, prolonged interactions between people, which presents opportunities for infectious disease transmission. Over 20,000 pilgrims gathered at Namugongo Catholic and Protestant shrines to commemorate 2022 Uganda Martyr’s Day. We described syndromes suggestive of key priority diseases particularly COVID–19 and viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) among visiting pilgrims during May 25–June 5, 2022. We conducted a survey among pilgrims at the catholic and protestant shrines based on signs and symptoms for key priority diseases: COVID–19 and VHF. A suspected COVID–19 case was defined as acute respiratory illness (temperature greater 37.5°C and at least one sign/symptom of respiratory infection such as cough or shortness of breath) whereas a suspected VHF case was defined as fever >37.5°C and unexplained bleeding among pilgrims who visited Namugongo Catholic and Protestant shrines from May 25 to June 5, 2022. Pilgrims were sampled systematically at entrances and demarcated zonal areas to participate in the survey. Additionally, we extracted secondary data on pilgrims who sought emergency medical services from Health Management Information System registers. Descriptive analysis was conducted to identify syndromes suggestive of key priority diseases. Among 1,350 pilgrims interviewed, 767 (57%) were female. The mean age was 37.9 (±17.9) years. Nearly all pilgrims 1,331 (98.6%) were Ugandans. A total of 236 (18%) reported ≥1 case definition symptom and 42 (3%) reported ≥2 symptoms. Thirty-nine (2.9%) were suspected COVID–19 cases and three (0.2%) were suspected VHF cases from different regions of Uganda. Among 5,582 pilgrims who sought medical care from tents, 628 (11.3%) had suspected COVID–19 and one had suspected VHF. Almost one in fifty pilgrims at the 2022 Uganda Martyrs’ commemoration had at least one symptom of COVID–19 or VHF. Intensified syndromic surveillance and planned laboratory testing capacity at mass gatherings is important for early detection of public health emergencies that could stem from such events.</div

STROBE statement—Checklist of items that should be included in reports of observational studies.

STROBE statement—Checklist of items that should be included in reports of observational studies.</p

Survey data.

Mass gatherings frequently include close, prolonged interactions between people, which presents opportunities for infectious disease transmission. Over 20,000 pilgrims gathered at Namugongo Catholic and Protestant shrines to commemorate 2022 Uganda Martyr’s Day. We described syndromes suggestive of key priority diseases particularly COVID–19 and viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) among visiting pilgrims during May 25–June 5, 2022. We conducted a survey among pilgrims at the catholic and protestant shrines based on signs and symptoms for key priority diseases: COVID–19 and VHF. A suspected COVID–19 case was defined as acute respiratory illness (temperature greater 37.5°C and at least one sign/symptom of respiratory infection such as cough or shortness of breath) whereas a suspected VHF case was defined as fever >37.5°C and unexplained bleeding among pilgrims who visited Namugongo Catholic and Protestant shrines from May 25 to June 5, 2022. Pilgrims were sampled systematically at entrances and demarcated zonal areas to participate in the survey. Additionally, we extracted secondary data on pilgrims who sought emergency medical services from Health Management Information System registers. Descriptive analysis was conducted to identify syndromes suggestive of key priority diseases. Among 1,350 pilgrims interviewed, 767 (57%) were female. The mean age was 37.9 (±17.9) years. Nearly all pilgrims 1,331 (98.6%) were Ugandans. A total of 236 (18%) reported ≥1 case definition symptom and 42 (3%) reported ≥2 symptoms. Thirty-nine (2.9%) were suspected COVID–19 cases and three (0.2%) were suspected VHF cases from different regions of Uganda. Among 5,582 pilgrims who sought medical care from tents, 628 (11.3%) had suspected COVID–19 and one had suspected VHF. Almost one in fifty pilgrims at the 2022 Uganda Martyrs’ commemoration had at least one symptom of COVID–19 or VHF. Intensified syndromic surveillance and planned laboratory testing capacity at mass gatherings is important for early detection of public health emergencies that could stem from such events.</div

Fig 2 -

Distribution of COVID-19 positive tests by date of testing among refugees in Nyakabande Transit Centre, Kisoro District, Uganda, April-June 2022(a)-tests done at time of relocation (b)-tests done at time of entry.</p

Socio-demographic characteristics of cases and controls in Nyakabande Transit Centre, Kisoro District, Uganda, June–July 2022.

Socio-demographic characteristics of cases and controls in Nyakabande Transit Centre, Kisoro District, Uganda, June–July 2022.</p

Questionnaire.

Due to conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), approximately 34,000 persons arrived at Nyakabande Transit Centre (NTC) between March and June 2022. On June 12, 2022, Kisoro District reported >330 cases of COVID-19 among NTC residents. We investigated the outbreak to assess its magnitude, identify risk factors, and recommend control measures. We defined a confirmed case as a positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen test in an NTC resident during March 1–June 30, 2022. We generated a line list through medical record reviews and interviews with residents and health workers. We assessed the setting to understand possible infection mechanisms. In a case-control study, we compared exposures between cases (persons staying ≥5 days at NTC between June 26 and July 16, 2022, with a negative COVID-19 test at NTC entry and a positive test at exit) and unmatched controls (persons with a negative COVID-19 test at both entry and exit who stayed ≥5 days at NTC during the same period). We used multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with contracting COVID-19. Among 380 case-persons, 206 (54.2%) were male, with a mean age of 19.3 years (SD = 12.6); none died. The attack rate was higher among exiting persons (3.8%) than entering persons (0.6%) (p</div