First Mpox Case Confirmed in Huíla Province

Lubango:Health authorities in Huíla Province have confirmed the first case of mpox, commonly known as 'monkeypox', in a five-year-old girl living in the Quilemba housing complex in Lubango. According to Angola Press News Agency, the confirmation was made by the director of the Provincial Health Department, Paulo Luvangamo. The case was identified on Saturday at Pioneiro Zeca Paediatric Hospital in Lubango, where the child is now in isolation. Her sample, collected on September 30, was sent to the National Institute of Health Research in Luanda, which confirmed the suspected case. The health department has started active case-finding in the Quilemba housing complex, the child's school, and the surrounding residential area to identify potential contacts. The case is believed to be a local transmission, as the child and her parents had not traveled in the 21 days before the illness appeared. Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of infection, focusing on the school and the child's social circle. Contacts identified are being monitored for 21 days for any signs of the disease, allowing for timely intervention if necessary. Paulo Luvangamo has called for calm and urged the community to reinforce preventive measures like frequent handwashing and minimizing physical contact with symptomatic individuals. Citizens are advised to seek medical attention if they develop symptoms resembling chickenpox, especially if accompanied by fever and headache. The health department is coordinating with the Education, Transport, and Commerce sectors to enhance preventive measures in schools, public transportation, and commercial areas. This includes the implementation or upgrading of handwashing stations to minimize transmission risks. Currently, there are no plans to establish a sanitary cordon or conduct health checks at the borders. Instead, efforts will focus on strengthening epidemiological surveillance and community-level prevention measures.