Zimbabwe has reported two cases of the Mpox virus, one in Harare and another in Mberengwa, with both individuals currently in home isolation.
Announcing the development on Sunday, 13 October, the Minister of Health and Childcare Douglas Mombeshora reassured the public that the situation is under control.
He said the first case involves an 11-year-old boy who travelled to South Africa in August 2024, returning to Zimbabwe on 10 September 2024. The boy developed symptoms on 23 September 2024.
The second case is a 24-year-old male who travelled to Tanzania and developed symptoms on September 29, 2024.
Mombeshora said both individuals are no longer infectious, and contact tracing is ongoing. Below is Mombeshora’s announcement in full:
<blockquote>
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 the 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 the 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 23 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 are underway.
Mpox is a rare viral infection caused by an Mpox virus that is endemic in Central and West Africa. It spreads through close contact with people, animals or through materials infected with the virus. Signs and symptoms of Mpox include:
<ul>
<li>Fever</li>
<li>Rash (that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth, or other parts of the body, especially hands, feet and chest)</li>
<li>Headache</li>
<li>Muscle aches and backache</li>
<li>Swollen lymph nodes</li>
<li>Chills</li>
<li>Exhaustion</li>
<li>Respiratory symptoms (sore throat, nasal congestion or cough)</li>
</ul>
The incubation period is usually 3 to 21 days and is typically slow developing over 2-4 weeks. The disease is normally self-limiting but can be severe in individuals with compromised immunity and other co-morbidities.
This means that the condition resolves on its own between three (3) to Four (4) weeks during which time health interventions take the form of supportive treatment including antibiotics and painkillers as required.
The disease can be prevented through:
<ul>
<li>Avoiding contact with individuals showing symptoms.</li>
<li>Avoiding sharing clothes, bedding and other personal items with persons showing symptoms.</li>
<li>Isolating persons showing symptoms from others who could be at risk of infection.</li>
<li>Practising good personal hygiene including frequent hand washing with soap under running water, or through the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers regularly.</li>
<li>Avoid sexual contact with persons showing symptoms.</li>
<li>Using personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for infected persons.</li>
</ul>
The Ministry of Health and Child Care wishes to reassure the public that the situation is under control and urges the Zimbabwean public not to panic. Any persons with symptoms are urged to report to the nearest health facility as soon as possible.
Equally, the public is also promptly urged to report suspected cases to the nearest health facility. The health and safety of our communities remains our top priority.
For more information, please contact Provincial Medical Directors, City Health Directors and the Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control HQ. The Ministry has also placed all its structures on high alert, including at all ports of entry.
Preparedness and Response activities.
1. The M-pox preparedness and response plan is now in place and has been shared widely.
2. Activation of the National and subnational Incident Management Systems has been done.
3. Training of healthcare workers on Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) is ongoing.
4. Conducting awareness campaigns in the provinces to ensure that the community is well informed on M-pox.
5. Information Education and Communication (IEC) material has been developed and is being distributed.
6. Enhanced surveillance at all the Ports of Entry including monitoring of travellers coming into the country.
7. Enhanced community-based surveillance systems are in place.
8. Identification and establishment of isolation centres throughout the country is underway.
9. The Ministry will continue to update the nation through regular press briefings as the situation evolves.
</blockquote>
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Zimbabwe has two cases of the Mpox virus, which has symptoms like fever, rash, headache, and muscle aches. Both patients are in isolation and recovering. The virus spreads through close contact. The government is taking steps to prevent its spread, like isolating infected people and educating the public. The Health Minister says not to panic and seek medical help if needed. They are also training healthcare workers and monitoring travelers entering the country. All structures are on high alert. They will update the public regularly as the situation changes.

Zimbabwe Records Two Mpox Cases

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has asked the government to improve its monitoring and response to the monkeypox (mpox) outbreak.
This request comes after the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
In a statement on August 21, ZADHR urged the Ministry of Health and Child Care to increase public awareness about the virus. It said:
<blockquote>
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Zimbabwe has significantly strengthened its emergency preparedness and response mechanisms.
We believe lessons learnt in responding to COVID-19 can go a long way in enhancing the preparedness and response to Mpox.
Therefore, with cases being reported in other parts of the World and Africa specifically; and zero cases reported in Zimbabwe to date, ZADHR urges the government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Health and Child Care to enhance Mpox surveillance, diagnostics, treatment and care facilities and awareness of the disease.
ZADHR encourages citizens to take precautions related to the monkeypox virus based on the most current advice from the Ministry of Health and Child Care and from public health officials.
As with COVID-19 ZADHR will continue to monitor the response and make recommendations to ensure that no lives are lost due to MPOX in Zimbabwe.
</blockquote>
Monkeypox is a viral disease that can spread from animals to humans and also between people through close contact with an infected person or objects such as bedsheets or clothing.
Common symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, pain when swallowing, pustules on the skin, and lesions around the genitals and anus.
According to a report issued by the Africa CDC on August 16, there have been 18 737 Mpox cases (3101 confirmed and 15 636 suspected) across 12 African countries since the beginning of the year, resulting in 541 deaths.
Despite the outbreak in other parts of the world and Africa specifically, Zimbabwe has not yet experienced any confirmed cases of the viral disease.
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A group of doctors in Zimbabwe want the government to do more to watch out for monkeypox, which is spreading around the world. They say the government should let people know more about the virus. The doctors hope the lessons learned from dealing with COVID-19 will help them be prepared for monkeypox. Monkeypox can be passed from animals to people or from person to person. It can cause fever, pain, and pustules on the skin. So far, Zimbabwe has not had any confirmed cases of monkeypox.

Zimbabwean Doctors' Group Calls For Enhanced Mpox Surveillance Amid Global Outbreak

As cases of the monkeypox increase, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said monkeypox cases have mainly, but not exclusively, been identified amongst men who have sex with men (MSM) seeking care in primary care and sexual health clinics.
Cases of monkeypox were first recorded on 13 May 2022 in Europe and North America and now about 12 WHO member states that have in the past not regularly reported the monkeypox virus, across three WHO regions. 
WHO says the virus is endemic in some animal populations in a number of countries, leading to occasional outbreaks among local people and travellers. The recent outbreaks reported across 12 countries so far are atypical, as they are occurring in non-endemic countries. Said <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2022-DON385">WHO in a statement Saturday:</a>
<blockquote>
Epidemiological investigations are ongoing, however, reported cases thus far have no established travel links to endemic areas. Based on currently available information, cases have mainly but not exclusively been identified amongst men who have sex with men (MSM) seeking care in primary care and sexual health clinics.
The objective of this Disease Outbreak News is to raise awareness, inform readiness and response efforts, and provide technical guidance for immediate recommended actions.
</blockquote>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/05/21/use-of-pictures-of-black-people-to-depict-outbreak-of-monkeypox-in-europe-north-america-condemned/">Use Of Pictures Of Black People To Depict Outbreak Of Monkeypox In Europe And North America Condemned</a></li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
The situation is evolving and WHO expects there will be more cases of monkeypox identified as surveillance expands in non-endemic countries. Immediate actions focus on informing those who may be most at risk for monkeypox infection with accurate information, in order to stop further spread. Current available evidence suggests that those who are most at risk are those who have had close physical contact with someone with monkeypox, while they are symptomatic. WHO is also working to provide guidance to protect frontline health care providers and other health workers who may be at risk such as cleaners. WHO will be providing more technical recommendations in the coming days. 
</blockquote>
Description of the outbreak
As of 21 May, 13:00, 92 laboratory-confirmed cases, and 28 suspected cases of monkeypox with investigations ongoing have been reported to WHO from 12 Member States that are not endemic to monkeypox virus, across three WHO regions. See the table below: 
<table class="table table-bordered table-hover" id="table_1" style="width: 83.7076%; height: 367px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.43">Country</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.53">Confirmed</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.77">Suspected</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.86">Australia</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.91">1-5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=98.78">–</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.52">Belgium</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.93">1-5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.94">1-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.51">Canada</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.94">1-5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.83">11-20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.36">France</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.94">1-5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.92">1-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.94">Germany</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.94">1-5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=98.59">–</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.79">Italy</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.95">1-5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=98.61">–</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.92">Netherlands</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.95">1-5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=98.52">–</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.71">Portugal</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.85">21-30</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=98.49">–</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.93">Spain</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.84">21-30</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.86">6-10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.88">Sweden</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.94">1-5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=98.78">–</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.58">United Kingdom</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.82">21-30</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=98.64">–</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91">United States of America</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.94">1-5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=98.87">–</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.86">Total</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.94">92</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.95">28</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>How Does it Spread &amp; Symptoms:</h2>
<blockquote>
i). Monkeypox spreads through close contact, therefore, people who closely interact with someone who is infectious are at greater risk for infection: this includes health workers, household members and sexual partners.
ii). Contact with live and dead animals through hunting and consumption of wild game or bush meat are known risk factors.
iii). Monkeypox can be transmitted by droplet exposure via exhaled large droplets and by contact with infected skin lesions or contaminated materials. 
iv). The incubation period of monkeypox is usually from 6 to 13 days but can range from 5 to 21 days.  
v). The disease is often self-limiting with symptoms usually resolving spontaneously within 14 to 21 days. 
vi). Symptoms can be mild or severe, and lesions can be very itchy or painful. The animal reservoir remains unknown, although is likely to be among rodents. 
</blockquote>
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