The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is set to roll out health campaigns to educate residents on the monkeypox disease.
Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (i.e virus transmitted from animals to humans) that produces symptoms similar to those observed in smallpox patients in the past, although clinically less severe.
The first case of Monkeypox was first detected on 6 May 2022 in the United Kingdom, England.
Last week, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvanga said the country had not recorded a single case of monkeypox.
According to the recent Council’s report of the Health and Housing Education Committee, ward 7 Councillor Shadreck Sibanda raised concerns about the increasing cases of monkeypox globally and wanted to know if the council was ready.
In response, Ward 10 Councillor Snikiwe Mutanda said health campaigns would be done accordingly with regards to monkeypox.
Last week, the government also said the Risk Communication Sub-Committee must immediately embark on a monkeypox information dissemination.
The government also said they have put in place surveillance, laboratory testing, and case management measures in preparation for any potential monkeypox outbreak in the country.
As of 2 July 2022, there were 6178 confirmed cases of monkeypox worldwide. The nation with the highest number of cases is again the UK where a total of 1236 cases were detected. In second place among the nations with the most Monkeypox cases on 2 July is Spain with 1196 cases and Germany with 1054.
