Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, the Minister of Health and Child Care, announced yesterday that Zimbabwe has confirmed two cases of Mpox, with both individuals currently in isolation.
During a press briefing, Dr. Mombeshora stated, “The Ministry of Health and Child Care wants to inform the public that there are now two confirmed cases of Mpox in the country: one in Harare and another in Mberengwa.” He emphasized that both patients are receiving appropriate care while in isolation at home.
He provided further details on the cases, noting that both patients are stable and on the road to recovery. “The first case involves an 11-year-old boy who traveled to South Africa in August 2024, returning to Zimbabwe on September 10. He began showing symptoms on September 23. He is currently in home isolation and is no longer contagious. We have identified seven contacts who are being monitored,” he explained.
ALSO READ: Police Discover Infant’s Body, Mother Arrested for Neglect in Sekhukhune District
“The second case is a 24-year-old man who visited Tanzania from September 14 to September 21, 2024. He developed symptoms on September 29 and is also in home isolation and no longer infectious. We are actively tracing his contacts and monitoring them,” he added.
Dr. Mombeshora reassured the public, saying, “The Ministry of Health and Child Care wants to assure everyone that the situation is under control. We urge the people of Zimbabwe not to panic.”
Mpox, previously known as Monkeypox, was declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security by the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) on August 13, 2024. It was later classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) by the World Health Organization (WHO) on August 14, 2024. As of 2024, Africa has reported a total of 7,535 confirmed Mpox cases and 32 related deaths.
