Mozambique is enhancing its border surveillance measures by deploying screening and testing teams to help contain the spread of mpox, health authorities announced on Monday. The country has so far recorded 17 confirmed cases and is monitoring an additional 92 suspected cases.
“There are no restrictions on the movement of people or goods at this time. What we are doing — and recommending, in coordination with other institutions — is reinforcing surveillance in cross-border areas,” said Quinhas Fernandes, National Director of Public Health, during a press briefing in Maputo.
Fernandes emphasised that community-based contact tracing remains the most effective strategy to halt the transmission of the virus. However, he acknowledged the logistical challenges involved.
“Unfortunately, this is not an easy task, as you might imagine. While we have formal border posts where surveillance teams can be stationed, there are also numerous informal crossing points that fall outside our control — and that presents a significant challenge,” he said.
The outbreak is currently concentrated in Lago district, Niassa province, which borders Malawi and Tanzania. All 17 confirmed patients are reported to be in stable condition.
Among the 92 suspected cases, Niassa leads with 57, followed by Tete (8), Maputo City and Maputo Province (7 each), Manica (4), Zambézia and Cabo Delgado (3 each), Nampula (2), and Sofala (1).
“All 17 patients are in stable condition and recovering well under home isolation. At this stage, none is being considered for discharge, as the standard monitoring period is 21 days,” Fernandes explained.
In response to the growing number of cases, health authorities are evaluating whether to request vaccines — a step that would only be taken if the outbreak escalates into widespread community transmission.
The decision will depend on the evolution of the epidemic in Mozambique and on the global availability of vaccines, as well as how the country’s situation compares with others on the continent.
On 24 July, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) warned of vaccine shortages, even as mpox cases and deaths decline across the continent.
