South African Health Minister, Dr. Joe Phaahla, has issued a cautionary alert to the public following the confirmation of a laboratory-confirmed case of Monkey Pox Disease, also known as Mpox, in South Africa.
The case involves a 35-year-old man from Gauteng who tested positive for the disease on May 9th. Notably, preliminary investigations have revealed that the patient has not traveled recently to countries currently experiencing outbreaks of the disease.
This marks the first reported instance of Mpox in the country since August 2022. Mpox typically manifests with symptoms such as fever and flu-like symptoms, followed by the development of a blister-like rash on the skin.
While Mpox is generally non-fatal and resolves within two to four weeks, the Department of Health emphasizes the importance of preventive measures, including case isolation until full recovery.
In line with recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), health authorities are advocating for increased vigilance, including robust contact tracing and the monitoring of laboratory-confirmed cases, to curb the potential spread of the disease within South Africa.
Source SABC News
