Department of Health Urges Vigilance Following New Mpox Case in Cape Town

The Department of Health has called for heightened public vigilance after confirming a new case of mpox in South Africa. The latest case involves a 38-year-old man from Cape Town who sought medical attention at a private practice after experiencing typical symptoms of the disease.

The patient presented with mpox lesions on his face, trunk, thorax, and genitals, along with a headache, sensitivity to light, sore throat, and muscle pain. He was advised to home-isolate while awaiting test results, which came back positive on, 6 September 2024.

According to health authorities, the patient has no recent international travel history or known contact with a suspected or confirmed mpox case. The Western Cape’s outbreak response team has been activated, and contact tracing efforts are ongoing.

This case brings the total number of confirmed mpox cases in South Africa to 25 since the outbreak began in May this year. These include three fatalities. The cases are distributed across Gauteng (12), KwaZulu-Natal (11), and now two in the Western Cape.

“The patient is isolating at home and is in stable condition,” the Department of Health confirmed. Authorities are urging anyone identified as a contact to cooperate with health officials for screening to prevent further transmission of the disease.

Despite the new case, the department stressed that the overall risk of wider transmission remains low in the country. However, it emphasized that anyone, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, or race, can contract mpox.

Common symptoms of mpox include a painful rash that may last two to four weeks, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen glands. The rash can appear as blisters or sores and typically affects the face, hands, feet, and groin.

Health officials are continuing to monitor the situation closely, urging the public to remain cautious while reiterating that the disease is preventable and treatable.