Zimbabwe has recorded two cases of MPOX with one case reported in Harare and another Mberengwa.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health and Child Care confirmed that both individuals are in isolation at home and are stable and recovering.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care wishes to inform the nation that Zimbabwe now has two (2) confirmed cases of Mpox: one in Harare and another in Mberengwa.
“Both cases are in isolation at home and are receiving appropriate care. Both cases are stable and recovering.”
Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox) was declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security by Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) on the 13th of August 2024.
It was then declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) by World Health Organization (WHO) on the 14th of August 2024.
In Africa, there are 7535 confirmed cumulative cases of Mpox and 32 deaths reported so far in 2024.
Here in Zimbabwe, Case number 1 is an 11-year-old male child with a known history of having travelled to South Africa in August 2024, returning to Zimbabwe on the 10th of September 2024.
He developed symptoms on the 23rd of September 2024. He is currently in isolation at home and is no longer infectious.
Seven (7) contacts have since been identified and are being monitored.
Case number 2 is a 24-year-old male with a known history of having travelled to Tanzania on the 14th of September 2024 and came back on the 21 of September 2024. He developed symptoms on the 29th of September 2024.
He is currently in isolation at home and is no longer infectious. Contact tracing and monitoring is underway.
Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, has been classified as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security by the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) since 13 August 2024. The World Health Organization (WHO) subsequently declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) on 14 August 2024.
In Africa, a total of 7,535 cases and 32 deaths have been recorded so far in 2024.
