Mozambique’s Ministry of Health on Thursday announced the first case of monkeypox in the southern African country.
Mozambique has a population of 33 million and is one of the poorest countries in the world; with most of its population living on less than $ 1 a day.
Monkeypox symptoms include fever, back pain and lymph nodes swelling.
The case was diagnosed Wednesday in Maputo City in an adult man, who was submitted to the tests on the same day, Mr Armindo Tiago, the Health minister said in a press conference.
According to Mr Tiago, who has not disclosed further details, the individual in question has a travel history and authorities were in the process of screening all possible contacts to be tested.
Monkeypox is a zoonotic viral disease transmitted from person to person through close contact with sores, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated tools such as bedding, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In July, WHO declared monkeypox a global emergency, underscoring the seriousness of the outbreak.
