The Department of Health has announced that the number of laboratory-confirmed mpox cases in the country has risen from 22 to 26 following the confirmation of four additional cases.
According to department spokesperson Mohale, the Western Cape has recorded 18 cases, followed by Gauteng with three, the Eastern Cape with two, the Free State with two and KwaZulu-Natal with one.
“Of the 18 cases reported in the Western Cape, two were imported cases involving foreign nationals visiting South Africa, while the remaining 16 were linked to local transmission.
“Twenty-five of the 26 cases involve males, aged between 23 and 50, with a median age of 37.
“Clade and lineage information is currently available for 17 cases, of which 13 are associated with the Clade Ib mpox virus and four with Clade IIb,” said Mohale.
Mohale urged members of the public to remain vigilant and seek medical attention promptly if they develop symptoms such as a rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes or fatigue.
“Individuals who have been in close contact with a confirmed or suspected mpox case should inform healthcare workers and monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days.
“If symptoms develop, they should avoid close contact with others and seek medical attention,” Mohale cautioned.
The spokesperson emphasised that mpox is a preventable and treatable viral infection. He urged the public to avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with anyone displaying an mpox-like rash and not to share bedding, towels, clothing or other personal items with affected individuals.
Mohale also urged healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion and follow infection prevention and control protocols when managing suspected cases.
“The Department will continue to work closely with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), provincial health authorities and other stakeholders to strengthen surveillance, case finding, contact tracing, risk communication and community engagement to contain the further spread of mpox,” Mohale explained.
