Zambia has in the past week recorded its first Mpox-related death of an eight-month old baby in Lusaka, the Ministry of Health has confirmed.
Minister of Health Dr Elijah Muchima announced this afternoon that the country has in the past seven days recorded a total of 7 new Mpox cases, one of them being the eight-month old infant who died while in admission at Lusaka’s Chipata Level One Hospital.
Speaking at a press briefing held today to address the nation on the current public health situation, Dr Muchima disclosed that the deceased patient had also been diagnosed with pneumonia which had partly contributed to the infant’s demise.
“Sadly, we have recorded the first Mpox-related death of an eight-month old infant at Chipata Level One Hospital. A comprehensive mortality review meeting has been held to ascertain the cause of death which was concluded to have been complicated by pneumonia in a known Mpox patient,” Dr Muchima disclosed.
The Minister revealed that the country’s cumulative number of Mpox cases currently stands at 31 with the Copperbelt (3), Muchinga (2), as well as Lusaka (2) having recorded the most recent cases over the past week.
Meanwhile, Dr Muchima has dispelled media reports claiming that the country has recorded a new case of Ebola in North Western Province.
“There has been some unverified rumours that Zambia has record an Ebola case, I saw it in the papers specifically naming Chavuma in North Western Province and I wish to categorically state and place on record that Zambia has not recorded any cases of Ebola,” he said.
Dr Muchima further revealed that no cholera cases have been recorded in over 40 days in the country with the cumulative number of cases still standing at 351 cases with 9 deaths recorded and 342 patients discharged.
