Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

1-minute read
06 August 2024 | 11:15 CAT

SAnews

The Department of Health urgently calls for ongoing public vigilance against Mpox disease as two more laboratory-confirmed infections have been detected in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

According to the department, the recent cases come 26 days after the last cases of Mpox were reported in South Africa.

This means that the total number of cases stands at 24, of which 12 were reported in Gauteng, 11 in KwaZulu-Natal and 1 in the Western Cape.

Department of Health spokesperson Foster Mohale said that while the latest 36-year-old patient in KZN has no international travel history, the 20-year-old Gauteng man recently travelled to Peru.

“It is uncertain if exposure occurred in Peru or South Africa. According to the World Health Organization multi-country Mpox outbreak, Peru is amongst countries with high numbers of positive cases in the region of the Americas.”

The department strongly reiterates its call for caution, urging anyone with suspected symptoms to prioritize their health and seek medical care immediately.

“Contact tracing and monitoring activities are ongoing in the affected communities in both provinces, and the Department urges all the identified contacts to cooperate with health officials during contact tracing for screening and possible diagnosis to prevent further transmission of this preventable and treatable disease.”

You can listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie and Department of Health spokesperson Foster Mohale here.