People identified during contact tracing for mpox urged to come forward for screening
Two more cases of mpox were confirmed this week, bringing the number of recorded infections in the country to 22.
FILE: Mpox virus particles, illustration. Picture: SERGII IAREMENKO/SCIENCE PHOTO L / SIA / Science Photo Library via AFP
JOHANNESBURG - People who've been identified during contact tracing for mpox have been urged to come forward for screening to prevent more transmission of the disease.
This follows the confirmation of two cases this week, bringing the number of recorded infections in the country to 22.
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The latest case is of a 40-year-old Johannesburg man who was diagnosed at a private health facility in Durban this past weekend.
Another man who presented an mpox-like rash was diagnosed at a hospital in KwaZulu-Natal.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease that presents symptoms like a painful rash, headache, muscle ache, enlarged lymph nodes and fever.
The Department of Health has called for members of the public to be vigilant.
“The department would like to urge all people who experience any of the mpox symptoms - with or without an international travel history - to present themselves to the nearest healthcare facility for clinical observation and confine themselves to one place until the test results are available,” said department spokesperson Foster Mohale.
Three people have succumbed to the disease in the country since May.