The health ministry of Tanzania announced Monday that it had identified the first two cases of mpox, the first time the virus has been found in an outbreak that has affected other African nations.
According to a statement released on X by health minister Jenista Mhagama on Monday, March 10, 2025, two people who were displaying symptoms were separated and examined on Sunday.
“Among the suspects, one is a truck driver who travelled from a neighbouring country to Dar es Salaam,” the statement read.
The African Union’s health office reported this week that since January, there have been 6,034 confirmed instances of mpox in 22 countries, with 25 fatalities.
Human-to-human contact can spread mpox, which is caused by a virus that belongs to the same family as smallpox. It can be fatal and causes fever, aches in the muscles, and large skin lesions that resemble boils.
Clade 1 and Clade 2 are its two subtypes.
In August 2024, the WHO issued its highest alarm, a public health emergency of international concern due to its spread.
