M-pox virus: Zimbabwe still safe

Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter

M-POX, formerly called Monkey Pox, is a rare viral infection prevalent in Central and West Africa that spreads through close contact with infected persons, animals or materials infected with the virus.

While Zimbabwe has not recorded any cases so far, the country is on high alert as a fresh pandemic has started in various parts of the world, Africa included.

Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Douglas Mombeshora recently issued a warning over the virus and assured the nation that it had not yet reached Zimbabwe but urged the public to remain vigilant.

“The Ministry of Health and Child Care wishes to reassure the public that, currently, no case has been reported in Zimbabwe and is monitoring the evolving situation of the M-pox outbreak. The Ministry has also placed its structures on high alert and is conducting preparedness and response activities. The public is urged to report suspected cases to the nearest health facility as soon as possible or use our toll-free line 2019,” said Dr Mombeshora.

With schools having opened last week, there have been concerns about the nature of the environment in schools, where learners are usually close to each other.

However, the Director of Health Services in the Bulawayo City Council (BCC), Dr Edwin Sibanda-Mzingwane said the city is ready to tackle the virus if cases are detected.

“We are ready; I should say we can never be ready, but we have made significant progress. The Covid-19 pandemic, which was protracted, strengthened the emergency preparedness and response activities of the city. It has also made our rapid response committees more efficient, so we have two weekly meetings to update each other on developments on any diseases that are prone to outbreak, M-pox included,” he said.

Dr Sibanda-Mzingwane said the meetings focus on the steps to take in the event of an outbreak.

“Should we have a case of M-pox, we know what to do and who to contact as a city,” he said.

The city uses Thorngroove Infectious Disease Hospital as its quarantine institution for infectious diseases such as Covid-19, Cholera and Typhoid, to name a few.

Mr Itai Rusike, the executive Director of the Community Working Group on Health shared his insights on the Government’s stance regarding the ongoing M-pox outbreak, applauding the Ministry of Health and Child Care for providing awareness and guidance in the form of pamphlets and a communique to update the public on the M-pox situation and their response.

Of much concern among members of the public regarding M-pox is second-hand clothing that finds its way into the country.

“There has so far not been a demonstration of a direct link between M-pox infections and the use of used clothes. However, as the infection is spreading via close contact through direct contact with infected hands, skin-to-skin and infected clothes that possibility cannot be ruled out. It is therefore important to uphold high levels of hygiene to minimise infection acquisition and person-to-person transmission,” said Mr Rusike.

He said it is important to ensure that members of the public have comprehensive information on the disease and its characteristics in order to be safe.

“We might give the impression that those who do not buy used clothes are safe and yet they may be exposed by their occupation, proximity to infected people and get the virus or complications.

“We inform the public to look out for correct information regarding the newly declared M-pox outbreak and maintain that an outbreak anywhere is potentially an outbreak everywhere as we saw with the Covid-19 pandemic. All suspected cases must be reported to health authorities for urgent medical attention and to ensure measures to curb further spread,” he said.

Zimbabwe has increased surveillance of the virus at all ports of entry with officials on high alert as the country welcomes a large number of tourists that flock to the country to various destinations throughout the year.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has highlighted some of the symptoms to look out for, which include fever, rash (that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth or other parts of the body, especially on the hands, feet and chest), headache, muscle ache, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion and respiratory symptoms that include sore throat, nasal congestion or coughs.

People with M-pox are infectious and can pass on the infection to others until all sores have healed and a new layer of skin has formed. Children, pregnant women and persons with a weakened immune system are at risk of complications derived from M-pox.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) notes that there are vaccines for M-pox, which should be considered along with other public health interventions.

“The goal of treating M-pox is to take care of the rash, manage pain and prevent complications. Early and supportive care is important to help manage symptoms and avoid further problems. Getting an M-pox vaccine can help prevent infection (pre-exposure prophylaxis). It is recommended for people at high risk of getting M-pox, especially during an outbreak,” states WHO.

WHO also highlighted groups that may be at high risk of contracting M-pox such as health and care workers, people in the same household or close community as someone who has M-pox, including children, people who have multiple sex partners, including sex workers of any gender and their clients.

According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, there is no proven or safe treatment for M-pox but the disease can be prevented by avoiding contact with animals that could harbour the virus, including animals that are sick or those found dead in an area where the virus occurs.

The virus is said to clear within two to four weeks if infected persons self-isolate while their blister-like wounds heal.

The history of M-pox dates back to its initial discovery in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like illness occurred in laboratory monkeys. Despite its name, the primary reservoirs of the virus are believed to be small mammals, such as rodents.

The first human case was recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 1970, during a period of intensified efforts to eradicate smallpox.

Since then, M-pox has been primarily concentrated in Central and West Africa, with sporadic outbreaks reported in several countries.

The virus is transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animals, human-to-human transmission, or through contaminated materials.

M-pox is endemic in several African countries, where it occurs in both rural and urban settings such as the DRC,- which has reported the highest incidence of M-pox cases, particularly in the northern provinces.

The Central African Republic has also experienced outbreaks of M-pox in the past, with cases primarily concentrated in rural areas where contact with infected animals is more likely. Nigeria has reported a resurgence of M-pox since 2017, with community transmission documented in several states.

In 2022, M-pox gained global attention due to an unprecedented outbreak that spread to multiple non-endemic countries. This marked a significant shift in the epidemiology of the disease, with cases reported in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and some European countries.

M-pox remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in endemic regions of Africa. The recent outbreaks in non-endemic countries underscore the need for global vigilance and preparedness.

Efforts to control and prevent the spread of M-pox include robust surveillance, vaccination strategies, public education and international collaboration. – @NyembeziMu