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The Department of Health says there is an increase in Monkeypox (Mpox) and flu cases in the country.
South Africa has recorded its second laboratory-confirmed case of Mpox, a rare viral infectious disease in humans caused by the monkeypox virus. Mpox presents with an acute illness characterised by fever and general flu-like symptoms, followed by the eruption of a blister-like rash on the skin.
“The new patient is [a] 39-year-old male who was admitted [to] Addington Hospital in Durban, KZN, without travel history to countries and regions currently experiencing the outbreak of the disease,” the department said in a media statement.
The department is working closely with the province and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and has activated contract tracing and case finding to identify and assess people who have been in contact with the patient to prevent further transmission, especially at a household and community level.
“This will also assist to establish if the second case was in contact with the first case confirmed in Gauteng earlier this month.”
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 466 laboratory-confirmed cases of Mpox and three deaths from 22 countries were reported globally in March, illustrating that low-level transmission continues across the world.
The most affected regions are the WHO African Region, European Region, Region of the Americas, Western Pacific Region, and the South-East Asia Region.
“In the African Region, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reports the highest number of confirmed positive cases, which represent just over a 10th of the suspected (clinically compatible) cases and deaths reported.”
The department said stigma and discrimination may prolong a disease outbreak by stopping people from coming forward for information or seeking testing or care, which undermines public health efforts.
“Thus, we urge the public and communities to support those who tested positive for Mpox to take treatment and those with suspected symptoms to go for screening and testing.”
source:Second monkeypox case confirmed in South Africa – LNN – Network News (citizen.co.za)
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