Mozambique confirms two more mpox cases – in Maputo province

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Mozambique confirms two more mpox cases – in Maputo province

10:28 CAT | 08 Aug 2025

FILKE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Reuters]

Mozambique yesterday reported two more confirmed cases of mpox in the previous 24 hours, both in Maputo province, bringing the total to 33 in three weeks, health authorities announced this Thursday.

In addition to recording the cumulative number of 33 positive and 222 suspected cases, the latest daily bulletin on the disease’s evolution, released by the National Directorate of Public Health with data from July 11 to August 6, states that the disease continues to be non-fatal, with no deaths recorded.

The two new mpox cases were confirmed in Matola, Maputo province. Twenty-two new suspected cases were also recorded in the previous 24 hours, between the city and province of Maputo, as well as in the provinces of Niassa (where the epicentre of the current outbreak is Lago district), Tete province, Zambézia province, and Manica province.

Furthermore, 89 contacts are being monitored by health authorities, which, to date, have recorded 28 cases of mpox in Niassa province (north), two in Manica province (central), and three in Maputo province (south).

The National Director of Public Health in Mozambique called on Wednesday for the avoidance of panic and misinformation regarding mpox, in order to counter any discrimination against victims that may possibly arise.

“We strongly urge against misinformation and panic, because, for example, in Maputo province, if you recall, we had a case of mpox in 2022 that was perfectly controlled without any misinformation (…). It’s important not to discriminate against patients with mpox,” Quinhas Fernandes said during a press conference in Maputo.

Mozambique expects to receive vaccines in September to contain a possible spread of mpox cases, the government announced on Tuesday, and authorities announced last week a reinforcement of border surveillance, with screening and testing teams, to curb the spread of cases of the disease.

Health authorities also assured that Mozambique is prepared to deal with mpox, with capacity for 4,000 locally conducted tests, and only just over 160 used in this outbreak so far.

Mpox is a zoonotic viral disease, first identified in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the current outbreak in southern Africa, since January 1st, 77,458 cases of the disease have been reported in 22 countries, with 501 deaths.

The first case of mpox in Mozambique occurred in October 2022, with a patient in Maputo.

The coordinator of COESP, a department of the National Directorate of Public Health, points to the testing capacity now available in the provinces, with 4,000 tests available and 1,000 for reagent analysis to identify strains of positive cases, as a major improvement in the last three years.

Mozambique now has the capacity to test in all provincial capitals, through Public Health laboratories, he said.

Source: Lusa