Zambia Confirms its Fourth Case of Monkeypox
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Lusaka, Jan 4 (NationPress) The health officials in Zambia have identified the fourth case of monkeypox, also known as mpox. This case involves a one-year-old boy who likely contracted the virus through close contact with a confirmed case, according to Minister of Health Elijah Muchima.
"The child is currently under home isolation, receiving medical care, and is in a stable condition," he informed reporters during a press conference.
Previously, last month, health authorities reported two cases in Kitwe city, located in the Copperbelt province, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
In October 2024, Zambia had its first reported mpox case involving a Tanzanian visitor.
In August 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), indicating the risk of further international spread.
The ongoing global outbreak of clade II mpox has resulted in over 100,000 cases across 122 countries, including 115 nations where mpox was previously unreported.
Mpox is an infectious illness that can manifest symptoms such as a painful rash, swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, and fatigue. While most individuals recover without complications, some may endure significant illness.
This disease is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), an enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus that falls under the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family.
This family also consists of variola, cowpox, vaccinia, and various other viruses. The monkeypox virus exists in two primary clades: clade I (with subclades Ia and Ib) and clade II (with subclades IIa and IIb).
Mpox mainly spreads through close person-to-person contact with an infected individual, particularly within households.
Close contact includes skin-to-skin interactions (like touching or sexual activity), in addition to mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-skin contact.
It can also be transmitted through face-to-face interactions, where breathing or conversing in proximity can produce infectious respiratory particles.
