The Ministry of Health and Social Services is awaiting the laboratory results of three suspected Mpox cases.

Two of them were received from private hospitals and one from the state. 

Speaking on the Namibia Connects programme, the Executive Director in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ben Nangombe, says 18 patients showing symptoms of Mpox presented themselves at private and state facilities.

Of these, 15 of them have come back negative. 

"In the past few days, there were a number of cases that were reported to our health facilities, and they were suggestive of the Mpox infection and were treated as such. The one case that came to Windhoek Central was treated, but the lab test came back negative. In another case that was treated, we are awaiting the lab result in that particular case. Yes, we had cases of patients with symptoms similar to those of Mpox, but the result came out as negative."

Nangombe confirmed that so far Namibia remains with zero Mpox cases, and they are continuously monitoring the situation. 

"As a ministry and government, we have an early, robust detection of outbreaks, whether Mpox or other diseases. our surveillance infrastructure. Health facilities across the country are ready. Covid-19 taught us a lesson. We have put up isolation facilities at most centers. Should a case be suspected, we will deal with it." 

He urged Namibians who travelled to endemic countries to take extra caution, further advising locals not to panic.