Cape Town – South Africa has confirmed two new cases of Monkeypox (Mpox), bringing the total number of infections to 22 since the disease first emerged in May this year.
The death toll remains at three.
The latest cases were reported by the Department of Health, detailing a 40-year-old man diagnosed in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on July 6, 2024.
The patient, originally from Johannesburg, Gauteng, developed an Mpox-like rash during a recent visit to Durban.
#MpoxUpdate Two more laboratory-confirmed cases of mpox have been recorded this week and available scientific data suggests that the disease is transmitting from person-to-person within the borders of the country. pic.twitter.com/wpFBbpGBlU
— National Department of Health (@HealthZA) July 11, 2024
“The patient is from Johannesburg, Gauteng, but travelled to Durban over the past weekend, where an Mpox-like rash developed,” the department said in a statement.
The second case involves a 26-year-old man from Nquthu, also in KwaZulu-Natal, who presented with similar symptoms at a local hospital.
“Both new cases self-identified as MSM [men who have sex with men] with no international, but local travel history.”
Mpox, characterised by symptoms such as rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, and swollen glands, typically lasts two to four weeks.
The Department of Health has confirmed two new cases of the Mpox, bringing the total to 22 since May. #DStv403 #eNCA pic.twitter.com/mGu3ie9DGu
— eNCA (@eNCA) July 12, 2024
The Department of Health has urged anyone experiencing these symptoms, regardless of travel history, to seek immediate medical attention and self-isolate until test results are available.
Contact tracing efforts are actively underway in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng to identify and monitor individuals who may have been exposed to the virus through close contact with the patients.
“We urge all the identified and suspected contacts to cooperate with health officials during contact tracing for screening and possible diagnosis to prevent further transmission of this preventable and treatable disease.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
