Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Zambia National Public Health Institute is actively understanding the nature of the current outbreak of the Monkey pox disease which has been recorded in some parts of the world.
The disease has so far been detected in fifteen (15) non-endemic countries across Europe, Australia, Canada and part of the Americas and as of May 21, 2022, the World Health Organization reported 92 confirmed cases, and 28 pending investigations with more cases likely to be reported as surveillance expands.
Speaking when he gave a COVID-19 situation update as well as other health issues at a media briefing, acting health minister Charles Milupi says Zambia has not recorded any case of monkey pox.
Mr Milupi says ZNPHI is putting in place surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, prevention and response strategies.
Meanwhile Mr. Milupi has announced that a total of 845,808 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered across the country in the last 8-days of the ongoing re-launched nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign which targets to reach 70 percent of the eligible population by the end of June.
Mr. Milupi says government is elated with the pace at which the public is responding to the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, urging all eligible persons to get vaccinated.
He has also disclosed that Zambia in the last 24 hours recorded 49 new cases out of 997 tests conducted countrywide representing a 5 percent overall national positivity.