Staff Reporter
THE Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Esperance Luvindao, has confirmed a second case of Mpox in Swakopmund, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to two.
“The Ministry has received a report of two confirmed cases of Mpox from Swakopmund, Erongo Region. The first was on 18 October 2025, and the second was officially confirmed today. The patients are receiving comprehensive treatment at the Swakopmund District Hospital and are in isolation,” Luvindao said.
She made this announcement during her ministerial statement in Parliament, where she also revealed that there is a suspected third Mpox case in Rundu, in the Kavango East Region. However, she clarified that this case has not yet been confirmed as positive.
“Our robust surveillance systems include individuals who are tracking signs and symptoms consistent with Mpox, promptly identifying cases, allowing for testing and treatment. With that said, I wish to highlight for those who are not aware, Mpox is a zoonotic disease caused by a virus, which results in a smallpox-like illness in humans. However, the current global Mpox outbreak is predominantly due to human-to-human transmission,” the minister added.
Luvindao explained that symptoms of Mpox include fever, intense headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, and a rash that appears a few days after the onset of symptoms, progressing to blisters and later crusting over.
“The symptoms and the skin rash generally last for about two to four weeks. During this time, the person can transmit the infection to others,” the minister explained.
She emphasised that Mpox is transmitted through sexual contact, close face-to-face interaction, respiratory droplets, saliva, kissing, touching, and other forms of close contact.
“It is important at this point to highlight that testing is being done locally at NIP, and the turnaround time for results is 24 hours,” Luvindao added.
