Zimbabwe Records First Mpox Cases: Recent Travelers Among the Infected
In a concerning development, Zimbabwe has reported its first cases of Mpox, previously known as Monkeypox.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care released a statement on Sunday evening confirming that two individuals in the country have tested positive for Mpox. The cases were recorded in Harare and Mberengwa. Both individuals are currently in isolation at home and receiving appropriate care. According to the Ministry, both patients are stable and recovering.
Also read: Lockdowns Loading?: Panic Erupts as WHO Declares Mpox a Deadly New Threat
Details Revealed As Zimbabwe Records First Mpox Cases
The first individual to be diagnosed with Mpox is an 11-year-old male child who travelled to South Africa in August 2024, returning to Zimbabwe on the 10th of September 2024. He began showing symptoms on 23 September and is now in isolation at home. Health officials have confirmed he is no longer infectious. Seven people who were in contact with him have been identified and are being closely monitored.
The second individual is a 24-year-old male who travelled to Tanzania on 14 September, returning to Zimbabwe a week later on 21 September 2024. He developed symptoms on 29 September and is also in isolation at home. Like the first case, he is no longer considered infectious, and contact tracing is underway to monitor those he may have come into contact with.
Mpox Declared a Public Health Emergency
Mpox was declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security by the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) on August 13th, 2024. A day later, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. In Africa, there have been 7,535 confirmed Mpox cases and 32 deaths reported so far in 2024.
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The post Zimbabwe Records First Mpox Cases: One Concerning Trend Noticed Among Patients appeared first on iHarare News.
