SA records 2nd case of monkeypox
Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla announced yesterday that South Africa has recorded another positive case of monkeypox, calling for vigilance.
Phaahla said the second patient is a 32-year-old man from Cape Town, who has no travel history – which suggests that there is a high possibility of local transmission.
The first case of monkeypox was recorded in the country last week, in a 30-year-old man from Joburg, who also had no travel history.
The source and linkage of cases remain under investigation and the department of health is working with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases to assess the risk for local transmission, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation and in line with the International Health Regulations, said Phaahla.
“The health officials will continue with contact tracing while closely monitoring the situation and alert clinicians on symptoms to look for, and if clinical picture fits with monkeypox, they are urged to complete case investigation form and send samples to testing.”
The minister said although monkeypox is less contagious than smallpox and causes less severe illness, the situation is slowly evolving with cases being recorded.
Phaahla has urged the public to observe good hygiene practices and other preventative measures, which were effective against Covid to prevent the spread of monkeypox.
“Members of the public who experience symptoms similar to monkeypox are urged to report to their nearest healthcare facility for early detection and successful treatment,” said Phaahla.
“Port health officials continue with multi-layered screening measures which include visual observation, temperature screening and completion and analysis of travellers’ health questionnaire when entering the country through ports of entry (airports, border gates and sea ports) for early detection and successful treatment.”
Monkeypox is related to smallpox – which killed millions around the world every year before it was eradicated in 1980 – but has far less severe symptoms.