JOHANNESBURG – The number of confirmed Mpox cases in South Africa has risen to 22, up from 18.
As of Tuesday, the Department of Health said 22 cases had been confirmed, including a 47-year-old man from Cape Town who travelled to Spain earlier this month.
The man had previously been classified as a probable case while awaiting laboratory results from Spanish health authorities. Following confirmation of a positive test, the Department of Health said the case had been reclassified as laboratory-confirmed and included in the updated national tally.
The three additional cases include infections involving German and Norwegian citizens.
Of the 22 confirmed cases, 18 are in the Western Cape, three in Gauteng and one in KwaZulu-Natal. All but one of the patients are male, with those affected ranging in age from 23 to 50.
Mpox can cause a range of symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain and fatigue. One of the more recognisable signs is a rash or skin lesions, which can appear on the face, hands, feet and other parts of the body.
The virus is transmitted mainly through close physical contact with an infected person. It can also spread through contact with contaminated materials, including bedding, clothing and towels.
Health authorities are urging anyone who develops symptoms associated with Mpox to seek medical attention.