ZIMBABWE’S health advocates have raised concern over rising monkeypox (Mpox) cases in Africa despite that the nation is yet to record a single case.
The continent has experienced an unprecedented spread and increase in Mpox cases and deaths since January this year.
To date, 17 541 Mpox cases have been reported, with 2 822 having been confirmed, while 14 719 are suspected cases.
A total of 517 deaths with a case fatality rate of 2,95% of Mpox have been reported in 13 African Union (AU) member States.
Community Working Group on Health executive director Itai Rusike told NewsDay that it is very worrying that the outbreak of Mpox is spreading to several African countries and called on Zimbabwe to urgently take precautionary measures to protect citizens and save lives.
“We have just come out of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic and there is a need to upgrade our surveillance and tracking systems, especially along the porous land borders, to ensure that everyone who comes into the country is properly monitored,” Rusike said.
He said Zimbabwe did exceptionally well in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We hope that we can continue to use that experience for strengthening the preventive measures that are required to deal with Mpox,” Rusike added.
- Zim on edge over monkeypox outbreak
Keep Reading
“Even though the country has not yet recorded any confirmed cases of Mpox, we should remain vigilant and not lower our guard by becoming complacent as other African countries have already been affected.”
He further noted that there was need to effectively engage communities to promote awareness and preventive measures for Mpox.
The Health and Child Care ministry, however, said it was prepared to protect citizens against the highly contagious disease.
“One of the things we are very proud of as a nation is our very strong disease surveillance system as it was one of our key response strategic pillars during the national COVID-19 pandemic,” the Health ministry statement read.
“We specifically worked tirelessly to strengthen our disease surveillance system in schools and at all ports of entry, working collaboratively with all stakeholders.”
It further stated that government continues to strengthen disease surveillance at all ports of entry and the country was, therefore, ready for any eventuality.
“In addition to strengthening our surveillance system, the ministry is very much on top of the situation in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance and local data and science,” the ministry said.
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention director-general Jean Kaseya last Thursday said reported cases in Africa had risen by 79% from 2022-23 and by 160% from 2023-24.
A total of 887 new confirmed and suspected cases of Mpox have been reported on the continent this past week, pushing the year’s total to 15 132, according to data presented during a media briefing.
According to WHO, Mpox is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus.
Common symptoms of Mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can last two to four weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
Mpox can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with someone who is infected, contaminated materials or infected animals.
Some outbreaks have killed up to 10% of the people who get sick, although more recent outbreaks have had lower death rates.
