South Africa is grappling with an outbreak of Mpox, with five confirmed cases and one death reported in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla said two of the cases were confirmed in Gauteng while the other three were in KwaZulu-Natal. The fatality was in Gauteng province.
He told reporters on Wednesday that the affected individuals, all males aged 30 to 39, had no travel history to outbreak regions, indicating local transmission.
He announced that the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) is conducting epidemiological studies and surveillance to understand the disease’s spread.
At least 38 contacts have been identified in KwaZulu-Natal province, indicating the possibility of wider spread of the disease.
Phaahla said the government is actively seeking vaccines from international sources, including WHO member countries, to protect high-risk populations.
The health ministry is considering targeted vaccination for groups such as sex workers, gay community, healthcare and laboratory workers.
Mpox (previously known as monkeypox) is a rare disease caused by a virus. It leads to rashes and flu-like symptoms.
Mpox spreads through close contact with someone who is infected or from an infected animal.
For decades, Mpox was mostly seen in Africa but it is occasionally found in other countries, including Australia, Europe and the United States.
The last time South Africa recorded cases of Mpox was in 2022 when five cases were confirmed in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Gauteng provinces.
JN/APA