Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health has confirmed its first two cases of mpox, the ministry announced on Sunday. Officials did not specify which variant was detected.
The first case involves an 11-year-old boy who developed symptoms last month after traveling to South Africa. The second case is a 24-year-old man who fell ill after a trip to Tanzania.
Both patients are currently recovering, and contact tracing efforts are underway to contain the virus. The cases were reported in Harare, the capital, and Mberengwa, a town in the southern part of the country.
In August, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years. This declaration followed the spread of a new variant from the Democratic Republic of Congo to nearby African nations.
The newly identified “clade 1b” variant has raised global concerns due to its apparent ease of transmission through routine close contact. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as it unfolds.
“The Ministry of Health and Childcare wishes to reassure the public that the situation is under control and urges the Zimbabwean public not to panic,” said Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora in an official statement.
Last week, neighboring Zambia also confirmed its first mpox case, but the country has not disclosed the specific strain involved.
Mpox typically presents with flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Although the disease is usually mild, it can be fatal in some cases.
