South Africa has recorded 26 confirmed mpox cases so far this year, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), whose dashboard was updated on 23 October. The Department of Health had announced four new cases on 18 October, SAnews reported.
The Western Cape has 18 cases, Gauteng three, the Eastern Cape and Free State two each, and KwaZulu-Natal one. The first two Western Cape cases were visitors from Germany and Norway; the other 24 were caught locally.
Twenty-five of the 26 patients are male. The patients range in age from 23 to 50. Lab tests have linked 20 cases to Clade Ib and four to Clade IIb, with testing still continuing.
What to watch for
The department is asking people to see a health worker quickly if they develop a rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen glands or tiredness.
Anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed or suspected case should tell a health worker and watch for symptoms for 21 days, keeping away from others if they feel unwell.
To lower the risk, avoid close skin-to-skin contact with anyone who has an mpox-like rash, and don’t share bedding, towels or clothes with them. The department stresses that mpox is preventable and treatable, and that health workers should stay alert and follow infection-control rules.
