Zimbabwe confirms first two MPOX cases as new variant sparks global concerns – Firstpost

Zimbabwe has confirmed its first two cases of MPOX, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health on Sunday, although the variant was not specified.

The first case was detected in an 11-year-old boy who showed symptoms after returning from South Africa last month. The second case concerns a 24-year-old man who became ill after a trip to Tanzania. Both patients are recovering and authorities have begun contact tracing. The cases were reported in Harare and the southern city of Mberengwa.

In August, the World Health Organization declared mpox a global public health emergency due to the spread of a new variant, ‘clade 1b’, which raised concerns about its ease of transmission through routine close contact.

“The Ministry of Health and Child Care would like to reassure the public that the situation is under control and urges the Zimbabwean public not to panic,” said the statement signed by Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora.

Neighboring Zambia also reported its first case last week without disclosing the strain.

Mpox typically causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. It is usually mild, but can be fatal.