Zambia has confirmed its first death associated with mpox, as the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections in the southern African nation has risen to 31.
Health Minister Elijah Muchima addressed the media, revealing that the first fatality linked to mpox involved an eight-month-old infant who died at a healthcare facility in the capital, Lusaka.
“A comprehensive review meeting was conducted to determine the cause of death, concluding that the patient suffering from mpox had developed complex pneumonia,” he stated during a press conference.
According to the minister, the country reported seven new cases of mpox over the past week, with three in Copperbelt Province, two in the northern region, and two in Lusaka, bringing the total number of cases to 31.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral infection that can be transmitted from person to person, primarily through close contact. It can also spread from the environment to individuals via objects and surfaces that have been touched by an infected person.
