Zimbabwe’s health ministry has reported its first two cases of mpox, with no details provided on the specific variant involved. An 11-year-old boy who showed symptoms after a trip to South Africa and a 24-year-old man who recently traveled to Tanzania were both diagnosed with the virus. Both patients are currently recovering, and health authorities have begun contact tracing efforts in Harare and Mberengwa.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared mpox a global public health emergency, marking the second such designation in two years. This decision follows the spread of a new variant, “clade 1b,” which originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has since spread to other African countries, causing concerns due to its relatively high transmissibility through close contact.
Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora has assured the public that the situation is manageable and has encouraged people not to panic. Zimbabwe’s neighbors, including Zambia, have also reported their initial cases of mpox, although the variant specifics were not disclosed. Mpox often produces flu-like symptoms and skin lesions and is generally mild but can occasionally be severe.
- Tags: Africa, Health, Mpox, Mpox spread, Mpox vaccine, Uganda, zimbabwe
