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Mpox: Three of the four reported cases are showing good signs of recovery
Abdallah Mzembaba
• Published on 26/01/2026
The presence of Mpox is now confirmed, with four positive cases being treated at Samba Hospital. All involve individuals who recently returned from Madagascar. While the clinical progress is considered favorable for the majority of patients, this announcement marks the beginning of a new phase: managing the epidemic.
Health Minister Ahamadi Sidi Nahouda announced the presence of the disease on Friday afternoon, January 23. "I wanted to address you today to inform you, in complete transparency, of a health situation that requires our collective attention. The health authorities of our country have just brought to my attention that four people, recently admitted to the Samba hospital, have tested positive for the Mpox virus," he stated. Four people are therefore hospitalized in Samba. "When we received the results last night, we informed the government, and the decision was made to announce it. We have nothing to hide," explained Soudjay Mohamed, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, last Friday.
The patients, all men aged 16, 17, 20, and 39, are currently in isolation. Three of them are showing rapid improvement and could leave the hospital within the next 24 hours, according to the same source. The fourth remains under observation, with progress deemed encouraging. Their relatives are also receiving medical monitoring, and preventative measures have been implemented in the affected homes. "The families have been informed and prepared," the secretary general stated.
These cases did not appear unexpectedly. A preparedness plan was activated as soon as the first cases were announced in Madagascar at the end of December. The holiday season, the large number of returning travelers, and the frequent use of maritime transport all factored into the risk assessment. "We knew that many people would be returning and that boats would be the primary means of transport," recalled Soudjay Mohamed.
Health checks were reinforced at ports and airports. Three of the patients arrived together by boat and were identified upon arrival with symptoms such as fever. The fourth, also arriving by boat from Madagascar, reportedly made a round trip to Ndzuani before finally returning to Moroni via the south of the island. "This illustrates the limitations related to the permeability of certain areas," he acknowledged, while emphasizing that community surveillance allowed for the rapid identification of the situation.
As a reminder, the reagent kits, ordered urgently, arrived on Wednesday, January 21, from South Korea. "In three weeks, we placed the order, it was delivered, and we were able to perform the diagnosis on-site," the Secretary General emphasized. This progress has made the national public health laboratory fully operational, now capable of carrying out analyses and sequencing without sending samples abroad.
Looking ahead, health authorities are already planning. Several treatment sites have been identified, including Samba, Hombo, Bambao Mtsanga, and Fomboni. Advanced testing sites are also to be established in southern Ngazidja, particularly in informal entry zones, to limit travel and allow for faster intervention in case of suspected cases.
The question of vaccination has now been raised. Steps have been taken, with a targeted strategy. "We are not going to vaccinate the entire population. Priority will be given to healthcare workers, port and airport staff, close contacts, and immunocompromised individuals such as those with advanced diabetes, as well as kidney patients," explained Soudjay Mohamed. Faced with public concerns, particularly regarding a possible border closure, the message is measured. There are no comparisons to past crises, but rather a call for restraint. "Mpox does not have the rapid spread or the lethality of Covid or cholera. We must remain calm and rely on official information," the Secretary General insisted.
https://alwatwan.net/sante/mpox-tro...arés-montrent-de-bons-signes-de-guérison.html
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/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutsamudu
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Mpox: Two suspected cases detected in Ndzuani
Ahmed Zaidou
• Published on 26/01/2026
Two passengers from the Acadie ship, which arrived in Mutsamudu, are showing symptoms suggestive of Mpox. They are isolated in Bambao Mtsanga, awaiting test results.
The Regional Health Directorate (DRS) of Ndzuani announced on Monday, January 26, the identification of two suspected cases of Mpox following a health check carried out upon the arrival of the ship Acadie at the port of Mutsamudu. The two individuals were immediately taken into care and placed in the Bambao Mtsanga isolation center, pending the results of tests that will confirm or rule out the presence of the virus.
The information was made public during a press briefing led by the acting regional health director, Dr. Mohamed Salim Ben Said Hafi. He specified that the samples had been taken by a medical team from Africa CDC, currently on the island supporting the local DRS (Regional Health Directorate) teams. "The equipment has arrived in Ndzuani. The tests are underway, with the support of Africa CDC, and the results will be published soon," he stated. On Saturday, January 24, the ship Acadie docked in Mutsamudu with 247 passengers and 17 crew members on board.
Among the 162 passengers who disembarked in Ndzuani, two presented with skin rashes deemed suspicious by the health services. These symptoms led to their transfer to the isolation center for rapid and secure care.
Before going into detail about the situation, Dr. Hafi emphasized the efforts being made to strengthen epidemiological surveillance at the island's points of entry. He highlighted the existence of a specific Mpox system at the small port of Dodin, the port of Mutsamudu, and Wani Airport, implemented in collaboration with the various services operating at these sites, including the gendarmerie. Upon the arrival of ships, he explained, measures are systematically applied, ranging from the disinfection of vessels and cargo to the screening of passengers and crew, as well as handwashing as part of preventative measures and the distribution of masks.
The health official also reviewed the process that led to the identification of the two suspected cases. “For each passenger, we check the medical certificate and information sheet, and conduct a visual examination, particularly of the face and arms. It was during this check that we identified two passengers showing signs of the disease, with skin rashes,” he explained. While awaiting the final results, the Regional Health Directorate (DRS) is calling for collective vigilance and reiterating that prevention remains the first line of defense against the disease. Health authorities are emphasizing the strict adherence to preventative measures, including physical distancing, regular handwashing, and wearing masks, to limit any risk of the spread of Mpox on the island.
https://alwatwan.net/sante/mpox-deux-cas-suspects-détectés-à-ndzuani.html