Zimbabwe has confirmed its first two cases of mpox, the Ministry of Health announced on Sunday. The ministry did not specify which variant of the virus was recorded.
The first case involves an 11-year-old boy who developed symptoms last month after returning from South Africa.
The second case was identified in a 24-year-old man who fell ill following a trip to Tanzania.
Both patients are currently recovering, and authorities have initiated contact tracing efforts in the capital, Harare, and the southern town of Mberengwa, where the cases were detected.
In August, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, as a new “clade 1b” variant spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring African nations.
This variant has raised concerns due to its increased transmission through routine close contact.
“The Ministry of Health and Childcare wishes to reassure the public that the situation is under control and urges Zimbabweans not to panic,” said Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora in a statement.
Zimbabwe’s neighbour, Zambia, also reported its first mpox case last week, though the specific strain was not disclosed.
Mpox is typically characterised by flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While the disease is often mild, it can be fatal in severe cases.
