EXECUTIVES within Zimbabwe’s private medical sector have issued a stark warning about the country’s vulnerability to the spread of Mpox, following recent cases reported in neighbouring South Africa.
During a NewsDay X Spaces discussion on the outbreak, which has severely hit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), leading health experts said the contagion risks were high due to the shared borders between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
While ruling out the possibility of another wave of hard lockdowns similar to those enforced during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the experts said Zimbabwe has the ability to handle Mpox. They said the country could leverage lessons learned from the Covid- 19 response to combat the potential spread of Mpox.
Public health specialist Johannes Marisa, president of the Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association, underscored the need for Zimbabwe to tighten its borders and enhance surveillance for Mpox.
“Zimbabwe does not have any cases yet,” Marisa said.
“But we should brace ourselves to receive cases since South Africa, our neighbour, has recorded cases of Mpox. There is a need for increased surveillance measures at the country's entry points like the Beitbridge Border Post and airports.
“Prevention is better than cure. We should be on high alert. Government should strengthen surveillance at critical entry points sothat we can contain this before it enters Zimbabwe,” he added.
Approximately 20 000 people travel between Zimbabwe and South Africa daily, with many being informal traders using public transport, heightening the risk of cross-border transmission.
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Reflecting on Zimbabwe's experience during the Covid-19 pandemic, Marisa said infections were initially reported in South Africa before spreading to other regional countries.
Zimbabwe recorded over 5 000 Covid-19-related deaths.
“There is a need for awareness,” Kevin Kusano, chief medical officer at Corporate 24, said.
“The media and relevant stakeholders should partner to avoid misinformation about the disease.
“We need to look at the root cause of Mpox, which is spread through contact with an infected person, through touch, intercourse, kissing, sharing clothes or utensils,” he added.
Both Marisa and Kusano emphasised the necessity of strong surveillance systems and screening processes at border crossings. They called for public education on Mpox and its symptoms to minimise panic and ensure effective containment if the virus reaches Zimbabwe.
“If we want to contain this, there is a need for good surveillance systems and screening processes at the border,” Kusano said.
“People need to be educated about the disease so that there is no panic. It can be contained as long as we adhere to prevention methods and hygiene processes.”
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organisation have declared Mpox a public health emergency.
Mpox was first identified in apes in 1958 and in humans in 1970 in the DRC.
Since then, the disease has been documented in several Central and West African nations, including Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, the Central African Republic, and Cameroon.
This year alone, over 19 000 cases have been reported in Africa, with the DRC accounting for 90% of the total.
