Health officials in Botswana have started screening travelers for mpox at the country’s entry points.
Neighboring South Africa has recorded three deaths as a result of the dangerous strain of mpox, and Botswana is anxious to keep out the rapidly spreading disease.
“Although we have not recorded any case of mpox in Botswana, I want to take this opportunity to assure Botswana that we have significantly enhanced our broader surveillance systems,” the country’s minister of health, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, told the media Tuesday.
“We are currently intensifying our surveillance at key entry points, which is borders and airports, focusing on high-risk areas.” Furthermore, Botswana Public Health Institute Acting Director Dr. Thebeyame Matsheka says travelers will be required to fill out self-assessment forms at border checkpoints.
South Africa shares a 1,900-kilometer border with Botswana and as of Aug. 5 had recorded three mpox deaths. In Africa, the disease has claimed the lives of more than 500 people since the beginning of the year.
Botswana is engaging with international partners for the supply of vaccines, according to Dikoloti. However, according to Africa’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the continent has only about 200,000 vaccine doses against a requirement of at least 10 million doses.
Medication for the management of mpox is available at health facilities throughout the country. “Vaccines exist for mpox but they are not widely available,” Dikoloti added.
The World Health Organization country representative, Juliet Bataringaya, cautioned that the scale of the mpox vaccination will not be broad due to the variable nature of the disease across countries.
While Botswana has not recorded any cases of mpox, the country is taking proactive steps to prevent the spread of the disease. Enhanced surveillance systems, self-assessment forms at border checkpoints, and engagement with international partners for vaccines are all part of the country’s preparation and vaccination efforts.
* Will Botswana be implementing a mass vaccination effort like during the COVID-19 pandemic?
+ No, according to Juliet Bataringaya, the World Health Organization country representative.
* How many vaccine doses are available in Africa?
+ The continent has about 200,000 doses, according to Africa’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
* Has Botswana recorded any mpox cases?
+ No, although the country is taking precautions to prevent the spread of the disease.
