Cape Town – A grade one learner from Hammanskraal, initially suspected of having mpox, has tested negative for the disease.
The Gauteng Department of Education had prematurely announced a positive case, which was later retracted pending verification from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.
The Department of Health (DoH) subsequently conducted laboratory tests, confirming the negative result.
DoH spokesperson Foster Mohale emphasised the need for continued vigilance, noting that no new mpox cases were reported in the country this past week.
“This does not mean that we are off the hook or should lower our guard, and we cannot guarantee at the current moment that this infectious disease has been eradicated and because it may re-emerge once, severe cases present for a health care facility, said Mohale.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
