Cape Town – A 38-year-old man in the Western Cape has become the second person in the province to test positive for Monkeypox, or Mpox, sending a wave of concern through the region.
The National Department of Health confirmed the news on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, revealing that the patient has no recent international travel history.
The man sought medical treatment at a private medical practice in Cape Town after experiencing symptoms consistent with the disease. These included lesions on his face, body and genitals, headaches, light sensitivity, sore throat and muscle pain.
"The patient was not admitted but urged to home-isolate while waiting for test results," said National health spokesperson Foster Mohale.
The laboratory results came back positive on Friday, September 6.
"According to an investigation report, the patient has no recent international travel history nor contact with a suspected or confirmed Mpox case," Mohale said.
The Department’s outbreak response team in the province has been activated, and contact tracing and monitoring activities are ongoing.
The news comes as South Africa struggles with a growing number of Mpox cases. The country has recorded 25 cases of Mpox since the outbreak of the disease in May this year.
A total of three people have died as a result.
The Department further noted that the majority of the cases were recorded in Gauteng where 12 were confirmed, followed by 11 cases in KwaZulu-Natal.
"The patient is home isolating and in a stable condition," said Mohale.
"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."
Mohale stressed that while 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)."
The Department of Health is urging the public to remain vigilant and to seek medical attention if they experience any symptoms consistent with Mpox.
The news of the second Mpox case in the Western Cape has raised concerns about the potential for further spread of the disease.
Health officials are working to identify and monitor any potential contacts of the infected man, and they are urging the public to take steps to protect themselves from the virus.
These steps include:
- Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
- Washing hands frequently with soap and water.
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Getting vaccinated against Mpox, if you are eligible.
The Department of Health is committed to working with all stakeholders to prevent the further spread of Mpox in South Africa.
