Zimbabwe confirms first Mpox cases amid global health alert

The Zimbabwean government has confirmed its first two cases of MPOX, with the Ministry of Health announcing the news on Sunday. The cases involve an 11-year-old boy and a 24-year-old man, both of whom had recently traveled to South Africa and Tanzania respectively.

Currently, both patients are recovering while health officials conduct contact tracing. The patients are located in Harare and Mberengwa. The global health community, including the World Health Organization, has raised the alarm following the spread of a new mpox variant from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care assures citizens that the situation is under control and advises the public not to panic. Meanwhile, neighboring country Zambia has also reported its first MPox case. The virus, known for its flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, remains generally mild but potentially fatal.

(With input from agencies.)