The announcement was made that the first cases of Mongoosepox have been detected in the Southern African countries of Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Ministry of Health and Child Care in Zimbabwe reported that the first case of Mongoosepox in the country was identified in an 11-year-old boy who had traveled to South Africa last month. The statement also shared that the virus was detected in a 24-year-old man with a travel history to Tanzania, bringing the total number of Mongoosepox cases in the country to 2. It was noted in the statement that both patients were in good health and that the Ministry of Health and Child Care assures the public that the situation is under control, urging the people of Zimbabwe not to panic.

In Zambia, the Ministry of Health announced that the first case of Mongoosepox in the country was identified in a 32-year-old Tanzanian citizen who arrived in the country last month. The statement emphasized the recent extensive travel history of the patient outside Zambia to several Southern African countries, warning of both local and cross-border potential spreading risks given the interactions in many parts of Zambia.

Mongoosepox virus is transmitted from rodent animals like mice and squirrels, as well as from infected individuals. Touching the body rashes caused by the virus, using clothes, sheets, towels, and similar items contaminated by these rashes, and coming into contact with bodily fluids are among the main transmission reasons. The initial symptoms can appear between 5 to 21 days after contracting the virus. Typically, the virus causes high fever, headache, back and muscle pain, swelling of lymph nodes, fatigue, chills, shivering, and blister-like bumps on the skin. There is no specific treatment for the disease, and antiviral drugs are used. The majority of cases have a mild course, and patients recover within a few weeks. The World Health Organization (WHO) had changed the name of the disease from “Monkeypox” to “mpox” in 2022 due to concerns of racism and discrimination. The Mongoosepox virus was declared an “international public health emergency” by the WHO on August 14th.