Malawi has begun screening for mpox at all ports of entry to prevent the virus’s spread, following the detection of the country’s first two suspected cases.
A 31-year-old man is being treated in a hospital, while a 17-year-old boy is receiving care at home. Both cases are awaiting laboratory test results.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the epicenter of a more virulent strain of mpox that emerged last year and has since spread to more than 10 other African countries. The World Health Organization declared this new strain a public health emergency of international concern just over a week ago.
Africa’s top public health agency announced Wednesday that some countries on the continent might begin vaccinating against mpox within days. However, Malawi is planning for a worst-case scenario and will not be administering the vaccine to everyone.
“It’s not given to just anyone like the Covid-19 vaccine or other vaccines; it’s reserved for those at very high risk,” said Adrian Chikumbe, spokesperson for the Malawi Ministry of Health.
The decision to implement visitor screenings is part of a broader preventive strategy that includes an awareness campaign through community health networks. Additionally, Malawi has established a mobile diagnostic unit at a hospital in Lilongwe, the capital.
Community health worker Carol Luka advised, “When you encounter someone with mpox, avoid any contact with them and with any materials they have used.”
Malawi remains one of the few Southern African countries that has not yet experienced an mpox outbreak.
