Zim on High Alert as WHO Flags Ongoing Mpox Outbre...

Zim on High Alert as WHO Flags Ongoing Mpox Outbreak Risk

Zim Now Reporter

Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health and Child Care has strengthened disease surveillance and tightened screening at all ports of entry following a World Health Organisation alert that Mpox remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Formerly known as monkeypox, Mpox is a viral disease related to smallpox.

Although Zimbabwe has no confirmed cases to date, its resurgence in multiple countries, including several in Africa and within the Southern African Development Community region, has raised concerns over the potential for cross-border spread.

The WHO has warned that localised person-to-person transmission is increasingly being reported, particularly in household and healthcare settings where protective measures are inadequate.

This trend poses a direct threat to countries like Zimbabwe, which share porous borders and experience high human mobility with neighbouring states currently facing outbreaks.

In response, the Ministry has intensified disease monitoring and activated Mpox screening protocols at airports, border posts, and other points of entry. Officials are urging the public to remain vigilant and follow WHO-recommended safety measures to reduce the risk of infection.

The Ministry is advising citizens to avoid physical contact with anyone showing symptoms of Mpox, refrain from sharing clothes, bedding, towels, or other personal items, and maintain good hand hygiene by washing regularly with soap under running water or using alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

People are also encouraged to wear face masks in close-contact environments as a preventive measure.

Additionally, the public is urged to avoid contact with wild animals, especially those that are sick or dead, and to refrain from handling or consuming their meat or blood. All food, particularly meat products, should be thoroughly cooked before consumption.

The Ministry is calling on communities to report suspected cases immediately to their nearest health facility.

“While Zimbabwe is currently Mpox-free, the regional situation requires heightened alertness and community cooperation. We must act swiftly to prevent importation and local transmission,” the Ministry said in its official statement.