Namibia Confirms First Mpox Case, Declares Outbreak Linked to SADC Travel

Namibia has officially declared an Mpox outbreak following the confirmation of a case in Swakopmund, Erongo Region, linked to recent cross-border travel within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The patient is isolated and receiving treatment in stable condition at Swakopmund District Hospital. In accordance with World Health Organization protocols, a single confirmed case constitutes an outbreak, prompting the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) to activate public health emergency responses, including contact tracing and surveillance to identify additional cases. Namibia's health authorities emphasize that the country is well-prepared with isolation facilities and robust surveillance systems to manage such outbreaks, urging the public to avoid misinformation and stigmatization. Mpox, a zoonotic orthopox virus related to smallpox, is primarily spreading human-to-human in the current global outbreak, which affects several African countries. The MoHSS remains committed to providing accurate updates to protect public health and contain the spread.