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First two monkeypox patients identified in African country
The first two cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in Zimbabwe, the African country's Health Ministry said in a statement, RBK reports.
The patients have been identified as an 11-year-old boy and a 24-year-old man. They are in isolation. The department said the boy had contact with at least seven people. The child fell ill after travelling to South Africa in August last year. He returned to Zimbabwe on September 10. Almost two weeks later, he developed symptoms.
The man was diagnosed with the disease after returning from Tanzania on September 21. Eight days later, he developed symptoms. The patient's contacts are still being traced.
Monkeypox is an infectious disease of humans and animals, characterized by high fever, systemic poisoning and a characteristic rash in the form of small bumps on the skin. In unvaccinated patients, the disease has a mortality rate of up to 10%. In this case, the infection can lead to serious complications such as encephalitis and sepsis.
It was previously reported that the number of cases of monkeypox in African countries since the beginning of 2024 has reached 22,800.