Mpox: Govt allays fears as tourists cancel trips

Namibia has not recorded any cases of the new strain of monkeypox (mpox), which has been declared a global health emergency, while Namibian truck drivers and travellers planning to visit affected countries have been urged to get vaccinated.Cancellations by tourists to Namibia have been noted, however. Gitta Paetzold, CEO of the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), urged Namibian authorities to stay informed about new developments and not tolerate misleading information or scaremongering.Tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta stressed that, with no cases reported, Namibia remains a safe destination for prospective travellers.“There is no need for any panic at all.”Shifeta said precautionary measures have been put in place and urged Namibians travelling to affected countries to get vaccinated.Global health concernOn 14 August the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern for the second time in two years.This was followed by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declaring a public health emergency of continental security (PHECS) on 13 August.These steps were prompted by the emergence of a new strain (clade Ib) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its spread to neighbouring countries.Executive director for health, Ben Nangombe, said these actions follow a marked increase in mpox cases globally and on the African continent, warranting coordinated public health responses.“In Namibia, to date, our surveillance system has not detected any suspected or confirmed cases of mpox. However, these declarations highlight the necessity of strengthening our public health measures for preparedness, readiness and response," he said. Be informed Nangombe said members of the public are urged to remain calm and refrain from spreading misinformation and disinformation about the disease.Paetzold added: “The population must learn about the facts of the disease, how it spreads, and how one can protect oneself against it. We are also happy to hear that our authorities have already put steps in place to introduce stronger health screenings at certain border posts."Border precautions The Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) reported that the outbreak is affecting Namibia's trading partners within the SADC region, with cases identified in the DRC and South Africa.“We therefore urge all stakeholders to be on high alert and extremely cautious, while also adhering to the prescribed safety protocol. We further urge our stakeholders to remain calm and avoid panic as we navigate through this outbreak,” said WBCG CEO Mbahupu Tjivikua.WBCG, with the support of SADC, has cross-border wellness clinics along all the key corridors connected to neighbouring countries.Safe destination In light of the recent global declarations regarding mpox, the SADC Business Council Tourism Alliance reaffirmed that southern Africa remains a safe and welcoming destination for tourism.The alliance emphasised the region’s swift and coordinated response to the situation and highlighted the minimal risk to travellers. “We take these declarations seriously and commend the proactive approach of global and regional health authorities. However, it is crucial to understand that the risk to travellers in southern Africa remains low. Our member countries are implementing robust measures to manage and mitigate any potential spread of the virus,” chairperson Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa said. Country responses The South African health department has reported 24 cases so far, primarily affecting individuals who have had physical contact with an infectious person. The country has implemented enhanced surveillance and contact tracing protocols.Meanwhile, Botswana has intensified screening for mpox at selected ports of entry.Angola has not reported any cases of mpox but has reinforced its contingency plans, with a particular focus on border control with the DRC and Congo.The tourism alliance said there are currently no widespread travel restrictions related to mpox for southern African countries.Since January 2022, a total of 15 countries in the African region have reported mpox outbreaks. In the last seven months, a total of 14 250 confirmed cases and 456 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 3.2% were reported, compared to 1 145 cases and seven deaths in 2023. The Democratic Republic of the Congo accounts for more than 90% of the reported cases.Symptoms include fever, intense headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches and a rash that appears some days after the onset of symptoms and turns into blisters and crust over time. The rash tends to be concentrated on the face, palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The mouth, genitals, and eyes may also be affected.

Mpox: Govt allays fears as tourists cancel trips

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-15

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Mpox: Govt allays fears as tourists cancel trips

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-15

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