Luanda - The Angolan Ministry of Health (MINSA) on Monday in Luanda Province denied the existence of cases of mpox disease in the country.
A video recently circulated on social media of a 46-year-old Angolan citizen, due to symptoms of injuries (pimples) and fever, who was admitted to the Cuimba Municipal Hospital and subsequently evacuated to the Mbanza Congo Provincial Hospital.
In a press release, ANGOP had access, the Ministry of Health reiterated the absence of cases of mpox in the country.
The ministry informed that the government remains on high alert and that it is doing everything, individually and collectively, to protect the country from this disease that affects 15 African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Zambia.
The documents mentioned that the National Contingency Plan for the Control of Monkey Smallpox is active, which guides the application of measures recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The recommendations include the effort of epidemiological and labor surveillance, investigation of suspected cases, contact tracing and the application of isolation and biosecurity measures.
The note said that the country is training health professionals, reinforcing the provinces with biosafety material, medicines and medical products, particularly in the border areas with the Democratic Republics of Congo and Zambia.
About the 46 years patient, the document from the ministry informed that an investigation was open with the aim to get better results with the sending of samples of the suspected case to the Laboratory of the National Institute for Health Research, which tested negative for the Mpox virus.
Regarding the spread of the video, it highlighted that acts of this nature seriously violate good practices and procedures for providing care to hospital users, meaning that they will henceforth deserve zero tolerance.
Monkeypox manifests itself through fever, headaches and muscle pain in the joints, lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes) and generalized rashes (spots, lesions or blisters on the skin) or lesions on the mucous membranes.
The disease is transmitted between people, through close contact with secretions, such as lesions on the skin of infected people or with contaminated objects and surfaces. AMC/MAG/OHA/MRA/DOJ
