Zimbabwe Government Targets Borders To Combat MPox Public Health Emergency

The Zimbabwe government has stepped up monitoring for mpox at the major borders of Zambia, South Africa, and Mozambique.

Health officials are monitoring travellers closely, particularly for symptoms like fever and rashes, which are key signs of the disease. So far, no cases of mpox have been reported in Zimbabwe.

On 14 August, World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus determined that the upsurge of mpox in the DRC and other countries constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR).

ALSO READ: Lockdowns Loading?: Panic Erupts as WHO Declares Mpox a Deadly New Threat

The Ministry of Health and Child Care is working with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners to update its mpox preparedness and response plan. As part of these efforts, healthcare workers nationwide will receive training on identifying and managing the disease. Additionally, the government is equipping its laboratories with the necessary materials to diagnose infections effectively.

A mass vaccination program targeting those most at risk is also in the pipeline. This will begin once Zimbabwe receives its batch of vaccines from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Dr Agnes Mahomva, the public health adviser in the Office of the President and Cabinet, told the Sunday Mail the heightened border surveillance would focus on identifying visible symptoms:

“We had our readiness checklist done last year when cases were on the increase. This week (last week), we are updating that checklist with WHO and other partners at the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre.

“We have a draft mpox preparedness and response plan, which we will be updating and finalising at a stakeholders’ meeting. We have also heightened surveillance at the points of entry with South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia to detect cases using rash and fever as our trackers.”

On August 13, the Africa CDC declared mpox a public health emergency of continental security in Africa. Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral illness that causes a rash, fever, and other symptoms. The virus spreads through close contact with an infected person or animal. Since 2022, mpox cases have been reported worldwide, with 15 African countries affected.