Six individuals in Uganda have presented symptoms of monkeypox and their samples have been sent to South Africa for laboratory analysis.

Of the six individuals – two of them are Congolese refugees aged 2 and 12.

The samples are taken to South Africa because Uganda has no reagents, this website has learnt.

Four of the suspected cases are being isolated in Kampala while 2 are im Kisoro District,

The patients presented elevated body temperatures and blisters.

There are plans by scientists in Uganda to partner with institute at the University of Kinshasa in the DR Congo, to give them reagents for testing the monkeypox virus.

DR Congo has been dealing with the disease for many years.