Mpox cases on the rise in Mzansi.
THE National Department of Health is urging the public to be cautious at all times.
This after Mzansi recorded another case of the deadly Mpox virus in a 38-year-old man from the Western Cape on Friday, 6 September.
According to the department’s spokesman Foster Mohale, the patient sought medical intervention at a private healthcare facility in Cape Town on 4 September after experiencing familiar Mpox symptoms.
“He experienced typical lesions on the face, trunk thorax and genitals, headache, light sensitivity, sore throat and muscle pain,” said Mohale.
He said primary investigations suggest that the man has neither recent international travel history nor contact with a suspected or confirmed Mpox case, which has forced the outbreak response team in the province to be alert.
“Contact tracking and monitoring activities are ongoing. However, the patient is home isolated in a stable condition,” he said.
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This case increases the total number of cases recorded in the country since the first outbreak in May to 25, including three deaths, 12 in Gauteng, 11 in KZN, and now two in the Western Cape.
Mohale further said healthcare workers understand the importance of confidentiality in managing reported and suspected cases of notifiable medical conditions.
“We urge all the identified and suspected contacts to cooperate with health officials for screening and possible diagnosis to prevent further transmission of this preventable and treatable disease,” he added.
Furthermore, Mohale said the risk of wider transmissions remains low in the country, but anyone can contract the virus regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation and race.
Meanwhile, other symptoms of Mpox include a rash which may last up to two to four weeks, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen glands.
The painful rash looks like blisters or sores and can affect the face, palms of the hands, soles of feet and groin.
Asive Dyani
www.snl24.com
