Mpox
Maputo, 12 Jul (AIM) – The Mozambican Ministry of Health has confirmed three cases of m-pox (formerly known as monkey pox) in the northern province of Niassa.
According to a Ministry release issued on Friday, the three cases were identified in Metangula and Cobue in Lago district on 8 July. On 10 July, the Niassa public health laboratory confirmed that all three cases were indeed suffering from M-pox.
The three patients have been isolated at their homes, while further tests are undertaken. Their condition is described as “clinically stable”.
The Ministry has sent a team consisting of staff from the National Directorate of Public Health and the National Health Institute (INS), to provide support to the provincial and district health workers. Their work includes monitoring the treatment of the positive cases currently in isolation, identifying their contacts and keeping them in quarantine, publicising messages intended to prevent the spread of the disease, and epidemiological surveillance.
M-pox is a viral disease, transmitted from animals to human beings, which was first identified in 1970, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The current outbreak in Africa has been notified in 22 countries, with more than 26,000 positive cases of the disease, resulting in 501 fatalities.
In the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, the countries affected are DRC, Angola, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and now Mozambique.
M-pox was declared a public health emergency of international interest for the second time in August 2024.
The Health Ministry is advising Mozambicans to avoid physical contact with any infected people or animals, and to avoid contact with, anything used by infected people such as clothing, bedding or towels. Surfaces that may have been contaminated should be cleaned and disinfected.
The Ministry also advises the public not to panic, to remain calm, and to use official sources of information, avoiding the spread of disinformation.
(AIM)
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