GABON recorded its first case of Mpox, the Health Ministry announced on Friday (23/8), making it the latest African country to report monkeypox infection on the continent.
The case involves a 30-year-old man who recently arrived from Uganda and is currently in isolation, Health Minister Adrien Mougougou said in a statement.
The patient, “who tested positive for the infection, showed symptoms such as fever, fatigue and general skin rash a few days after arriving in Gabon,” the minister said.
He said the patient was isolated and treated for clinical suspicion on Wednesday (21/8) after the infected person visited the hospital.
“The patient is in good condition and contact tracing is ongoing,” Mougougou said, urging the public to remain calm and vigilant.
The ministry said it has implemented preparedness and response measures since the outbreak of the disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Also read: Europe Haunted by the Spread of Mpox
Strengthened epidemiological surveillance measures, diagnostic capacity at the national level, and multisectoral coordination mechanisms have been activated.
A total of 17,541 cases of mpox and 517 deaths have been reported from 13 African countries, according to the latest figures from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Democratic Republic of Congo, which is the current epicentre of the outbreak, accounted for 96% of all cases and 97% of all deaths reported in 2024.
Mpox was declared a public health emergency of international concern on August 14 by WHO, the UN health organization. (Ant/Z-2)
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