Ethiopia reports first mpox case

Addis Ababa:Ethiopia has recorded its first mpox case since the outbreak in Africa last year, the country s health authorities confirmed on Sunday....

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia has recorded its first mpox case since the outbreak in Africa last year, the country's health authorities confirmed on Sunday.

A 21-day-old infant has tested positive for mpox in Moyale town, near the Kenyan border, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and Public Health Institute said in a joint statement.

Noting that subsequent testing also confirmed that the child's mother is infected with the virus, the ministry said the child and his mother have been placed in quarantine.

According to the ministry, both the child and his mother have not suffered any serious health problems so far and are currently in stable condition. It said coordinated efforts are underway to trace the source of the infection.

As Ethiopia becomes the latest African country to report a mpox case, the total number of affected countries on the continent since the start of last year has now reached 26, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).