Namibia has reported its first case of Mpox in Swakopmund, Erongo Region, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) announced on Sunday. The patient is currently stable, receiving treatment, and isolated at Swakopmund District Hospital.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the infection is linked to cross-border travel within the SADC region. According to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, a single confirmed case constitutes an outbreak. Contact tracing and monitoring of potential cases are ongoing in the region.
Mpox is a viral disease caused by an orthopoxvirus, first identified in monkeys in 1958 and in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The virus spreads through close contact with lesions, bodily fluids, contaminated objects, or respiratory droplets during prolonged contact. It can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy or birth.
Symptoms typically include fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that forms blisters, often affecting the face, palms, soles, genitals, and mouth. The illness usually lasts two to four weeks, during which patients can transmit the virus.
The Ministry urges the public to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and practice good hygiene. Healthcare workers and caregivers should use personal protective equipment when caring for patients.
Namibia’s health system is fully activated to manage the outbreak. Isolation facilities nationwide are ready, and authorities will provide timely updates as the situation develops.
📞 For enquiries, contact the Ministry of Health and Social Services-Namibia Hotline:0800100100 | 0851100100 | +26461-203 2054
