A 32-year-old Tanzanian national has been identified as Zambia’s first case of Mpox.
Local media reports indicate that the man arrived in Zambia in early September and subsequently traveled to various locations within the southern African country.
The first symptoms of the illness appeared on October 2, when the patient experienced mobility issues, followed by muscle aches, fatigue, and a sore throat.
In a statement, Zambia’s health ministry linked the patient’s extensive travel history to an increased risk of spreading the illness. “Given the patient’s extensive travel history and interactions at multiple points in Zambia, there is heightened risk of local transmission and potential cross-border spread.”
The health ministry also confirmed the initiation of contact tracing while the patient receives treatment at a rural health center.
“We have intensified risk communication and community engagement in all areas the individual passed through since entering Zambia. Our surveillance and response teams across the country remain on high alert for any further cases of Mpox,” the ministry’s statement added.
Mpox was declared a Public Health Emergency by the World Health Organization in July and has caused fatalities, with symptoms including flu-like signs and pus-filled lesions.