Staff Reporter
THE Ministry of Health and Social Services has received a report of one confirmed case of Monkeypox in the Angolan capital, Luanda. The patient is a Congolese national and is currently isolated in a specialized health facility for infectious disease control in Luanda.
Ben Nangombe, the health ministry’s Executive Director, acknowledged the information shared by the Angolan Government and reaffirmed the ministry’s continued monitoring of the Mpox outbreak in the African Region and elsewhere in the world.
“The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security, followed by the World Health Organization, which declared the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 13 August 2024 and 14 August 2024, respectively,” said Nangombe.
He added that Namibia’s robust surveillance system ensures that all individuals showing signs or symptoms consistent with Mpox are quickly identified, tested, and monitored. He pointed out that as of 18 November 2024, Namibia has collectively tested 38 patients for Mpox from state and private health facilities, all of whom tested negative. According to him, all individuals investigated for Mpox are regarded as suspected cases until laboratory confirmation is received. If the laboratory results are negative, the respective patient continues to be monitored and managed for other illnesses, as appropriate.
Nangombe said that as of Wednesday, 20 November, Namibia had not recorded a confirmed case of Mpox.
He reassured members of the public that Namibia is adequately prepared to respond to public health emergencies and disease outbreaks such as Mpox. In addition, isolation facilities across the country are readily available or have been repurposed to accommodate and admit suspected infectious diseases that may require hospitalization.
“We urge the community to remain calm and refrain from circulating unverified information on Mpox or any other public health matter, as this may cause unnecessary panic. As the institution mandated to ensure public health, we will always provide accurate, truthful, and timely information concerning public health issues. We remind the public that misinformation can provoke unnecessary fear and uncertainty,” he said.
