Three New Cases of Mpox Outbreak Confirmed by Department of Health

Johannesburg – The Department of Health is calling on the public to exercise caution after three laboratory-confirmed cases of Mpox were reported in the country.

“The initial case was confirmed on 21 February involving a 30-year-old male resident of Ekurhuleni, Gauteng Province, who recently traveled to Kampala, Uganda,” the department stated in a release on Friday, (28 February 2025).

“This patient was diagnosed with Clade I Mpox virus, which is currently circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, and has been documented in travelers returning to multiple locations worldwide.”

“The other two cases, a 30-year-old male and a 27-year-old female, also from Ekurhuleni, were identified through contact tracing and monitoring efforts by outbreak response teams.”

The department emphasized the significance of primary cases sharing information for effective contact tracing.

“All three individuals are now recovering and are self-isolating at home,” the department reported.

“This brings the total cumulative number of confirmed cases from 25 to 28, including three fatalities since the outbreak began in May of last year.

“These represent the first positive Mpox cases recorded in South Africa this year, with the last case documented in September 2024.”

Globally, mpox is still regarded as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS), as declared by both the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in August 2024.

“While the public should not panic, it is important for individuals to remain aware of how Mpox spreads and to seek assistance if they exhibit symptoms of the disease,” the department advised.

Symptoms include a rash that may persist for two to four weeks, fever, headache, muscle pain, back pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.

Mpox is usually a mild and self-limiting disease with a low fatality rate.

The risk of widespread transmission remains low in South Africa; however, anyone can contract mpox, irrespective of age, gender, sexual orientation, or race.

The department encourages anyone experiencing symptoms—regardless of whether they have traveled to areas with Mpox outbreaks, or have had close contact with confirmed cases—to seek medical attention.

Although the country has a limited supply of Mpox-specific vaccines for those suffering severe complications from the disease,

adopting safer sex and good personal hygiene practices are among the most effective ways to prevent further spread.

Individuals are reminded to regularly wash their hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, particularly before meals and after using the restroom.