The Department of Health (DoH) confirmed on Sunday that two more people contracted Monkeypox in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, bringing the total number of cases to 24.
This was 26 days after the reported cases between May 8 and July 6; and of the initial 22 cases recorded, 19 patients had fully recovered. So far, there were three fatalities linked to the disease, the department said.
According to the DoH, 12 cases were discovered in Gauteng, 11 in KZN and one in the Western Cape.
In KZN, a 36-year-old man was admitted at a local public hospital after he presented a rash related to mpox, alongside fatigue, muscle pain and rigour. The patient had no international travel history.
Meanwhile in Gauteng, a 20-year-old man was diagnosed with the disease after presenting mpox lesions on Friday.
DoH spokesperson, Foster Mohale, confirmed the patient had travelled to Peru in South America. The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that Peru was among countries in the regions of the Americas, where the mpox outbreak was prevalent.
“Contact tracing and monitoring activities are ongoing in the affected communities in both provinces, and the Department urges all the identified contacts to cooperate with health officials during contact tracing for screening and possible diagnosis to prevent further transmission of this preventable and treatable disease,” said Mohale.
He urged South Africans to be vigilant of any mpox symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, headache, swollen lymph nodes and a rash lasting for more than two weeks, among others.
“All people with suspected symptoms are reminded to visit the nearest healthcare facility right away for clinical evaluation, diagnosis and treatment options, instead of self-diagnosing and isolation,” said Mohale.
He added that the department welcomed the arrival of another batch of Tecovirimat (TPOXX) donated by the WHO. “It is part of ongoing support to the country’s response efforts to this preventable and manageable disease,” said Mohale.
The Star