The World Health Organisation attempted to calm fear around the planet on Thursday, saying the 'rat virus' first identified aboard a Dutch cruise ship was not the start of a 'new Covid'.

In a demonstration of solidarity during a time when the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is grappling with outbreaks of the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), Botswana has donated doses of vaccines to Zimbabwe.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has declared an end to the Mpox and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever outbreak in the country.

The outbreak was recorded in the Erongo and Omaheke Regions, and the ministry has successfully contained the diseases. 

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform has urged the farming community not to panic amidst the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease in some SADC countries.
 
The disease has been confirmed in South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
 

Otjozondjupa Health Director Gerbhado Timotheus has expressed concern over the increase in cholera cases at Grootfontein, with 22 positive cases confirmed.

The 22 cases stem from 83 samples tested, with 40 testing negative and the rest remaining pending.

Zambia has confirmed five new cases of Mpox in the last week, bringing the total cumulative cases to 1,733 since the disease outbreak began in October last year. Despite the high number of cases, the Zambia National Public Health Institute reports that the death toll remains at three.

Zambia has cumulatively recorded a total of 1,299 suspected MPOX cases and three recorded deaths.

Currently, 25 of those cases are home-managed.

Ten out of 24 suspected measles cases have tested positive in the Kunene Region.

Since the first confirmed measles case in Opuwo, on August 21 this year, additional suspected and confirmed cases have been reported.