Govt starts mpox awareness in provinces

Tanyaradzwa Rusike

THE Government has begun mpox prevention awareness campaigns in all provinces.

To date, no case of mpox has been confirmed locally, but the authorities continue to monitor the situation for any suspected cases of the deadly viral disease. Surveillance has already been heightened at the country’s major ports of entry — bordering Zambia, South Africa and Mozambique.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care is currently updating its mpox preparedness and response plan, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners. In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Ministry of Health and Child Care Permanent Secretary Dr Aspect Maunganidze said vigilance on mpox is continuing.

Asked if the country will carry out vaccination programmes for mpox, Dr Maunganidze said: “We are currently not aware of any vaccination targeting healthcare workers nor have my ministry planned such interventions.”

The country’s health system is being fortified to respond effectively to mpox cases. Healthcare workers are also set to undergo training on disease recognition and management, while Government laboratories are being equipped with the necessary reagents to diagnose infections.

Dr Maunganidze added: “We have also started conducting awareness campaigns in the provinces to ensure that the community is well-informed on mpox. A press release was done using mass media.

There is enhanced surveillance at all the ports of entry, including monitoring of travellers coming into the country, particularly those from mpox reporting countries.”

On August 13, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention declared mpox, previously known as monkeypox, a public health emergency of continental security in Africa. mpox is a viral illness that can cause a rash, fever and other symptoms

. The virus can be transmitted through close contact with an infected person or animal. The current global outbreak began in 2022 and has seen cases reported in multiple countries around the world.

So far, cases have been recorded in 15 African countries. A skin rash or mucosal lesions are common symptoms of the disease, often accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes. These symptoms can persist for two to four weeks.