Johannesburg – South Africa is on “high alert” in case of a surge in Mpox cases and the emergence of new contagious strains.
The Department of Health said while the Mpox outbreak remains “under control in the country”, the public should do their part to prevent the spread of the disease.
In a statement on Sunday, the department said: “Members of the public are urged to play their part and support the country`s response efforts to prevent the spread of Mpox by maintaining nonpharmaceutical measures including personal hygiene”.
The department said it was considering several pharmaceutical interventions, which include additional treatment and vaccines.
“The decision will be informed by the epidemiological data at our disposal,” the department said.
The total number of positive cases recorded in South Africa as of Sunday, (18 August 2024), stands at 24 including 3 deaths, 19 recoveries, and two active cases undergoing home isolation.
The department said the current epidemiological data suggests that people living with HIV and men who have sex with men (MSM) were vulnerable to Mpox.
“Others at high risk and vulnerable include those living with chronic medical conditions such as TB and Diabetes,” the department said.
“Some of the common symptoms of Mpox include a rash, which may last for two to four weeks, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen glands (lymph nodes).
“The painful rash looks like blisters or sores and can affect the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, groin, etc.”
The department said it was important to clarify that both the declarations by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and WHO do not translate into trade and travel restrictions.
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In the statement, the department said the declarations serve as a clarion call for member states including South Africa to work together, fast-track approval of Mpox vaccine and treatment while maintaining strict safety protocols, and ensure these life-saving vaccines reach the most vulnerable populations to prevent further spread of this infectious, but treatable disease, and the loss of lives.
The department said it was working with various stakeholders including the WHO County Office, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, and Border Management Authority to intensify epidemiological and surveillance, contact tracing, and health screening activities for case investigation and early detection of new positive cases in the country.
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“The country remains on high alert in case of a surge in Mpox cases and the emergence of new contagious strains,” the department said.
While assuring the public that the “current Mpox outbreak remains under control in the country, the department, however, said: “That does not mean people should become complacent because we have learned from the Covid-19 pandemic that viruses are unpredictable as they mutate from time to time”.
