Zambia Confirms First Mpox Case, Says Contact Tracing is Underway

Zambia has reported its first case of mpox, according to a statement from the health ministry on Thursday. The ministry did not specify which variant of the virus was detected.

The infected individual, a 32-year-old Tanzanian national, arrived in Zambia in early September and began showing symptoms, including muscle aches, fatigue, and a sore throat, on October 2. The patient is currently receiving treatment at a rural health centre, according to Zambia’s Health Minister Elijah Muchima.

Health officials have launched contact tracing and warned of a heightened risk of local transmission due to the patient’s extensive travel within the country.

Given the patient’s extensive travel history and interaction at multiple points in Zambia, there is a heightened risk of local transmission and potential cross-border spread.

Following the confirmation of his test results, the Ministry of Health, through the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI), has heightened surveillance and is conducting contact tracing, Muchima told reporters.

Mpox is a viral infection that causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions. The World Health Organization declared it a global public health emergency for the second time in two years.

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