The Eastern Cape has recorded two laboratory-confirmed mpox cases as South Africa’s national total increased to 26, the Department of Health said.
Four additional cases have been confirmed nationally, bringing the cumulative number of laboratory-confirmed mpox cases reported since 1 January, from 22 to 26 cases.
The cases are distributed across five provinces, with 18 reported in the Western Cape, three in Gauteng, two in the Eastern Cape, two in the Free State and one in KwaZulu-Natal.
In a statement issued on Sunday, 18 October, the Department did not provide further details about the two Eastern Cape cases.
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 are men, with ages ranging from 23 to 50 years and a median age of 37.
The Department has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and seek healthcare promptly if they develop symptoms such as a rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes or fatigue.
People who have been in close contact with a confirmed or suspected mpox case have been advised to inform healthcare workers and monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days.
Should symptoms develop, they should avoid close contact with others and seek medical attention.
Mpox is a preventable and treatable viral infection. The public has been advised to avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with anyone who has an mpox-like rash and not to share bedding, towels, clothing or other personal items with affected individuals.
Healthcare workers have also been urged to maintain a high index of suspicion and adhere to infection prevention and control protocols when managing suspected cases.
The Department said it would continue working 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 further spread of mpox.
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Staff Reporter
novanews.co.za