Staff Reporter
Government has urged Zimbabweans to remain calm following the confirmation of two M-pox cases in the country.
Health authorities have reassured the public that the situation is under control, with both cases being managed effectively.
Addressing a media conference in Harare yesterday, Health and Child Care Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora confirmed the presence of two M-pox cases, one in Harare and another in Mberengwa.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care wishes to inform the nation that Zimbabwe now has two confirmed cases of M-pox: one in Harare and another in Mberengwa. Affected patients are in isolation at home and are receiving appropriate care. Both cases are stable and recovering," said Dr. Mombeshora.
Dr. Mombeshora disclosed that the first case is an 11-year-old boy who recently travelled to South Africa.
He returned to Zimbabwe on September 10 and developed symptoms on September 23. The boy is currently isolating at home and is no longer infectious.
Health authorities have identified seven contacts linked to the case, all of whom are being closely monitored.
The second case involves a 24-year-old male who travelled to Tanzania on September 14 and returned home on September 21.
He developed symptoms on September 29 and is also isolating at home, with health officials confirming that he is no longer infectious.
Contact tracing and monitoring efforts are actively underway to prevent further spread of the virus.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has since activated its Mpox preparedness and response mechanisms.
“The Government has already activated its response mechanisms, including an Mpox preparedness and response plan, which has since been shared widely,” Dr. Mombeshora said.
He added that the national and subnational incident management systems are operational, and healthcare workers are undergoing training on integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR).
Public awareness campaigns are also being rolled out to ensure communities are well-informed about the virus.
“Information Education and Communication (IEC) material has been developed and is being distributed, with enhanced surveillance at all ports of entry, including monitoring of travellers coming into the country. Enhanced community-based surveillance systems are in place, and the identification and establishment of isolation centres throughout the country is underway,” Minister Mombeshora added.
Dr. Mombeshora urged anyone displaying symptoms of Mpox to report to the nearest health facility as soon as possible.
"The public is also urged to report suspected cases to the nearest health facility. The health and safety of our communities remains our top priority," he emphasized.
Mpox, a rare viral infection, was declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) in August 2024, following the rapid spread of a new Clade 1b strain from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to neighbouring countries.
Common symptoms include fever, rash (resembling pimples or blisters), headache, muscle and back aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, sore throat, nasal congestion, and cough. The incubation period ranges from three to 21 days.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) also declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).
So far, 7 535 cases and 32 deaths have been reported worldwide, with the majority of cases coming from the DRC.
