The Department of Health is pleased to announce that 15 of the total number of Mpox cases have received a clean bill of health, while 5 remain hospitalised due to severe health complications compounded by either unmanaged or recently diagnosed underlying conditions such as HIV. Only one case was re-admitted for further medical attention.
This is a testimony that Mpox is a treatable disease if diagnosed early for effective treatment, hence people are urged to seek health care once they experience Mpox-like symptoms or came into direct contact with someone who tested positive. The Department, working with various stakeholders continues with efforts to curb the spread/transmission of Mpox in the country.
The country has recorded four more laboratory-confirmed cases in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The recent cases include a 17-year-old man from Hillbrow in Johannesburg; a 37-year-old man from Pretoria East; a 29-year-old man from West Rand; and a 19-year-old man from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.
This brings the total number of positive cases of Mpox in South Africa to 20 and three deaths since the outbreak of the disease in May 2024. Ten cases were recorded in Gauteng, nine cases in KwaZulu-Natal and one from Western Cape. Outbreak response teams have been activated for the newly diagnosed cases. All cases are male, aged between 17- 43 years old.
Meanwhile, another batch of Mpox specific treatment (Tecovirimat) is expected to be arrive in the country in the next few weeks as the number of cases is also expected to rise due to intensified contact tracing, risk communication and community engagement activities in the affected communities. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has received over 130 test requests since the outbreak of Mpox in South Africa.
For more information about Mpox, click here.
