Health workers in Salima are tracking 17 people who supposedly came into contact with the district’s two confirmed Mpox cases.
According to Salima district chief preventive health officer Reuben Chikadza, the isolated patients are responding well to treatment.
The update comes a week after the National Health Institute reported that almost half of the country’s 35 confirmed Mpox cases have recovered.
According to the institute, 14 of the 17 cases were discharged in Lilongwe and the rest in Ntcheu, Mangochi and Likoma districts. None has recovered in Salima.
“Contact tracing is being done by our district rapid response team and this will continue for the next 21 days as required,” said Chikadza.
All the contacts under surveillance are based in Salima Town, a fishing and tourist hotspot along Lake Malawi.
Salima District Council spokesperson Fostina Mkandawire said the District Environmental Health Office will ramp up mass awareness to halt the outbreak confirmed in Mangochi, Salima, Nkhata Bay and Lilongwe.
Health authorities have discharged at least 302 of about 400 contacts in the four districts.
The viral disease is transmitted through contact with fluids from infected persons.
The Ministry of Health ranks Lilongwe, the capital city, the worst-hit by the disease associated with fever, swollen lymph nodes and rashes that often start as red spots and bumps before blisters kick in
Half of Malawi’s cases have recovered, according to Ministry of Health. I Afp
