Bengo Province Records First Case of Mpox

Luanda: The head of the Public Health Department of Bengo Province, Josefa Gomes, announced on Thursday that the province has recorded its first case of Mpox. According to Angola Press News Agency, the case was detected at an early stage through epidemiological surveillance, and the patient was immediately isolated at Bengo Provincial Hospital. Samples were subsequently sent to the National Institute for Health Research (INIS), where the infection was confirmed through laboratory testing. Josefa Gomes assured the press that the situation is under control and that no other confirmed cases have so far been recorded in the province. The patient is a resident of Bengo Province and had previously travelled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and to Cabinda Province, areas considered to have a higher risk of exposure to the disease. The patient's contacts, including family members, are being monitored daily by the health authorities and, to date, have shown no signs or symptoms consistent with Mpox. A s a preventive measure, screening points have been established at Panguila Market, the Barra do Dande Triangle and the Mobile Zone, with plans to extend surveillance to other parts of the province. She stressed that strengthening surveillance measures is intended to facilitate the early detection of potential cases and prevent the spread of the virus within the community. Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that can be transmitted through close contact with an infected person, including exposure to bodily fluids or contaminated materials.