After the declaration of mpox as a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO), health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula called for calm, as Namibia has not recorded any case of the disease.
He told Vital Signs this week that mpox has been endemic in many African countries, and is not a new disease.
“Namibia has never recorded a case of mpox. We have a robust surveillance system that can pick up any new diseases. Our emergency response systems are ready at all times,” he stated.
He added that there is no cause for concern, and “we shall inform the public of any developments”.
Mpox is a zoonotic disease (an infectious disease that is transmitted between species from animals to humans or from humans to animals).
It is caused by an orthopox virus, which results in a smallpox-like disease in humans.
The virus was initially discovered in monkeys in 1958, and in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Since then, the disease has been reported in human beings in several other Central and West African countries such as Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
Cases have been reported outside Africa in recent years.
Africa has been experiencing an unprecedented increase in mpox cases since January 2024, with more countries previously unaffected by the disease now reporting cases.
A total of four previously, unaffected countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, have reported cases since mid-July 2024.
Meanwhile, the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) said the outbreak is hitting closer to Namibian trading partners within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, with cases already reported in the DRC and South Africa.
“We therefore urge all stakeholders to be on high alert and be extremely cautious, while also adhering to the prescribed safety protocol. We urge our stakeholders to remain calm, and avoid panic as we navigate this outbreak,” said Mbahupu Tjivikua, WBCG’s CEO.
“The WBCG, with support from SADC, has cross-border wellness clinics along all the key corridors connected to neighbouring countries. We offer free assistance at our wellness clinics, and we encourage truck drivers and industry players to visit these clinics for prompt assistance. Namibian truck drivers and travellers planning to visit affected countries are advised to consider getting vaccinated against Mpox before their journey,” he added.
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has urged AU member states to increase domestic resource allocation, lead their national mpox outbreak responses through a One Health approach and enhance their capacities, particularly in areas such as capacity building, risk communication, community engagement, case detection, contact tracing and cross-border surveillance.
“Since the start of 2024, a total of 17 541 cases (2 822 confirmed and 14 719 suspected) and 517 deaths due to mpox were reported across 13 AU member states. This week, three additional countries notified cases under investigation for confirmation. That can bring the total to 16 countries. Alarmingly, the number of reported cases in 2024 has surged by 160%, compared to the same period in 2023,” said the president in his capacity as the AU Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.
The Daily Maverick reported that the South African Department of Health revealed in July that South Africa has 24 confirmed mpox cases – 12 in Gauteng, 11 in KwaZulu-Natal and one in the Western Cape, with three deaths.
-psiririka@nepc.com.na