South Africa’s health ministry reported a third fatality from the ongoing mpox outbreak on Tuesday, raising concerns about the viral infection’s spread.
Since May, 16 laboratory-confirmed cases have been detected across the country.
The outbreak appears concentrated in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, with eight and seven confirmed cases respectively.
One case was also reported in the Western Cape. Notably, all confirmed patients are males between 23 and 43 years old.
The health ministry emphasized that the World Health Organization (WHO) hasn’t recommended travel restrictions due to the outbreak.
However, travelers from countries where mpox is endemic are advised to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms and inform healthcare officials about their travel history.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Border Management Authority is implementing screening procedures for incoming travelers at all ports of entry.
The WHO expressed concern about the rising number of mpox cases in Africa, particularly the continent’s recent surge to the top region for confirmed infections.
Dr. Rosamund Lewis, WHO technical lead for infectious diseases, urged intensified investigations to identify the root causes of this increase.
Globally, over 3,100 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported to the WHO since the beginning of 2024.
In May alone, nearly 600 cases were confirmed across 26 countries.
The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo is particularly alarming.
The country faces a major outbreak caused by the mpox virus clade I, with over 9,200 clinically compatible cases and a concerning case fatality ratio of nearly 5% reported in 2024 alone.
