Monkeypox Comes To Cape Town

[imagesource:wikicommons]

A 38-year-old Western Cape man has become the second person in the Western Cape to have tested positive for Monkeypox, or Mpox, after seeking treatment at a private medical practice in Cape Town.

The patient was experiencing “typical” symptoms associated with the disease, including lesions on the face, body and genitals, headaches, light sensitivity, sore throat and muscle pain.

The National Department of Health said the patient has no recent international travel history but was treated and urged to home-isolate while waiting for test results, which came back positive last Friday.

The Department’s outbreak response team in the province has been activated, and contact tracing and monitoring activities are ongoing. According to an investigation report, the patient has no recent international travel history nor contact with a suspected or confirmed Mpox case.

“The patient is home isolating and in a stable condition.

“We urge all the identified and suspected contacts to cooperate with health officials during contact tracing for screening and possible diagnosis to prevent further transmission of this preventable and treatable disease.

“The healthcare workers understand the importance of confidentiality in managing reported and suspected cases of notifiable medical conditions.”

[image: NDLA] 

Since the disease’s breakout in May this year, the country has seen 25 instances of Mpox, resulting in three deaths.

The Department added that KwaZulu-Natal had 11 instances and Gauteng had 12 confirmed cases, accounting for the majority of cases. It also noted that the risk of wider transmission remains low in the country, anyone can contract Mpox regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation and race.

“Some of the common symptoms of Mpox include a rash which may last for two to four weeks, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen glands (lymph nodes).”

Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is a disease caused by infection with a virus, known as Monkeypox virus. This virus is part of the same family as the virus that causes smallpox, and people with Mpox often get a rash, along with other symptoms. The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing.

[source:dailyvoice]