Following the confirmation of five instances of Mpox (monkeypox) in South Africa, health officials are stepping up measures to stop the disease’s spread.
The National Health Department reports that three more people in KwaZulu-Natal tested positive in the past month, and two cases have surfaced in Gauteng.
Amid a global outbreak of cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated Africa as the center of Mpox transmission. Health officials throughout the continent are now more vigilant as a result of this concerning development.
One death has been reported in the nation, according to Health Minister Joe Phaahla, who made this confirmation during a press conference in Pretoria on Wednesday morning.
On June 10th, Monday, the deceased, a male patient from Gauteng, passed away at Tembisa Hospital.
According to Minister Phaahla, all impacted men are between the ages of thirty and thirty-nine, and interestingly, none of them have ever traveled. This implies that local transmission occurs in South Africa.
The public is being urged by health authorities to exercise caution and follow preventive measures including washing their hands frequently and avoiding contact with wild animals, as these animals are known to be carriers of the Mpox virus.
In an effort to stop the disease from spreading further, efforts are being made to identify contacts and put containment measures in place.
Health officials are constantly monitoring the situation and collaborating with foreign partners to minimize the impact of the Mpox outbreak in South Africa as it develops.
