Harare: Zimbabwe has confirmed two cases of mpox in individuals who recently traveled to South Africa and Tanzania. The country's Health and Child Care Minister, Douglas Mombeshora, announced the development on Sunday, noting that both cases are stable, no longer infectious, and are being managed at home, according to reports by Xinhua news agency.
As per IANS, Mombeshora stated that both patients are currently in isolation at their homes and are receiving appropriate care. He reassured the public that there is no need to panic and urged citizens to report any suspected cases to the nearest health facilities for timely intervention.
The first case involves an 11-year-old boy who traveled to South Africa in August and returned to Zimbabwe on September 10. According to inputs from IANS, the boy developed symptoms on September 23, and after testing positive for mpox, he was placed in home isolation. The minister confirmed that the child is no longer infectious. Health authorities have identified and are monitoring seven contacts linked to this case.
The second case is a 24-year-old male who has a known travel history to Tanzania. Mombeshora stated that he is also in isolation at home and is no longer considered infectious. As per IANS inputs, contact tracing and monitoring efforts are actively underway to ensure that any potential spread of the virus is contained.
In his statement, the Health Minister assured the public that the situation is under control and emphasized the importance of reporting any suspected cases immediately to prevent further transmission.
According to IANS, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency in August for the second time in two years. This followed the emergence of a new variant, "clade 1b," which has raised global concern due to its ability to spread more easily through close contact.
Neighboring Zambia also reported its first mpox case last week, although the specific strain was not disclosed. The new variant, which originated in Congo, has spread to several neighboring African countries, prompting health authorities to enhance monitoring and control measures.
Mpox typically presents with flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions. While it is generally mild, it can be fatal in some cases, particularly among vulnerable populations. According to IANS, health experts continue to monitor the situation closely as efforts to control the spread of the virus intensify across the region.