Tanyaradzwa Kutaura |  9 months ago | top

Government has reassured citizens that health response systems have been activated to keep track and detect monkeypox in the country. 

Responding to questions in the Senate this Thursday, Health and Child Care deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro said health authorities are continuously conducting tests for the disease.

Monkeypox is an infectious viral disease that can occur in both humans and some other animals, symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that forms blisters. 

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) says it is in the process of procuring thousands of monkeypox tests for Africa, however the agency is not recommending mass vaccination at this stage.

WHO-Africa director Matshidiso Moeti said the continent should be prepared for vaccination if the need arises. 

According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the continent has documented close to 1600 suspected cases of monkeypox, with 66 deaths, this year.