The Department of Health confirmed an increase in Mpox cases in South Africa. As of September 22, the number of registered cases rose from 18 to 22.
One of the latest recorded cases involves a 47-year-old man from Cape Town who had previously visited Spain this month. The Department reported that this individual was initially classified as a probable case while awaiting laboratory results from Spanish health authorities. After the positive test was confirmed, this case was reclassified as laboratory-confirmed and included in the updated statistics.
Mpox is a viral disease that can affect anyone. Symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, as well as a rash or skin lesions that can appear on the face, arms, legs, genitals, or other parts of the body.
People are strongly advised to recognize symptoms and seek medical attention immediately. Among the other three cases are two imported infections affecting citizens of Germany and Norway. Of the total 22 confirmed cases, 18 are in the Western Cape, three are in Gauteng, and one is in KwaZulu-Natal.
A representative of the Department of Health, Foster Mohale, stated that the department, together with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners, is supporting the Western Cape Department of Health in implementing response measures, including contact tracing and enhanced surveillance.
Mohale emphasized: 'Anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed case within the last 21 days and develops symptoms must seek medical attention immediately and inform healthcare workers about their contact history.' He added that although most cases are concentrated in the Western Cape, the identification of transmission clusters and cases in multiple provinces indicates the need for continuous public cooperation, early detection, and ongoing monitoring to prevent further spread.