Cape Town — The Department of Health (DoH) has confirmed that another patient has died from the Mpox (formerly Monkeypox) disease, pushing the death toll up to two.
Health Minister, Joe Phaahla, reported South Africa’s first Mpox death on Wednesday as one of the five patients hospitalised at Tembisa Hospital died.
Now, the department has confirmed that a second patient died from Mpox, just 24 hours after Phaahla urged more caution when it comes to spreading the disease. Health Department spokesperson, Foster Mohale, announced the death, EWN reported.
“The latest case is a 38-year-old male who was admitted at a local hospital in uMgungundlovu in KwaZulu-Natal and tested positive for Mpox on Wednesday, 12 June after presenting with extensive lesions, headache, fatigue, oral ulcers, muscle pain and sore throat. The patient has, unfortunately, passed away in KZN on the same day his test results came back positive.” he said.
@HealthZA declared an #MPox outbreak in South Africa yesterday with 6 lab confirmed cases & 2 fatalities. @WHOSouthAfrica stands in solidarity with @GovernmentZA 🇿🇦 to mitigate the outbreak by providing technical support & ensuring medical commodities are available to treat #mpox pic.twitter.com/y69LVPASox
— WHO South Africa (@WHOSouthAfrica) June 13, 2024
According to The Citizen, Mohale said Phaahla has called for more vigilance following the death of the second patient. The patient was living with HIV and listed his residential address as Brakpan in Gauteng.
“The Department is working closely with both Gauteng and KZN Departments of Health to investigate the case. Further updates and reports will be provided once the investigation has been concluded.” he said.
Phaahla confirmed that South Africa had no registered medication for Mpox but had obtained emergency use approval for the treatment. Mohale says the public can take preventative measures to stop the spread of the disease, SABC News reported,.
“Mpox is a preventable and treatable disease if diagnosed early….practice hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette. Diagnosed patients and should where possible avoid contact with immuno- compromised people, children and pregnant women who may be at a higher risk of severe symptoms if exposed to the disease,” he said.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
