Pretoria – The number of laboratory-confirmed Mpox cases has risen to 22, the Department of Health announced.
In a statement made available to The Bulrushes on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, the department confirmed “additional laboratory-confirmed mpox cases, raising the total number from 18 to 22 confirmed cases as of 22 September 2026.”
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“One of these cases involves a 47-year-old male from Cape Town who travelled to Spain earlier this month,” the department revealed.
“This individual was previously classified as a probable case pending laboratory results from Spanish health authorities.
“Following confirmation of a positive test, the case has been reclassified as laboratory-confirmed and included in the updated count.”
The department said the other three cases include two imported infections involving a German and a Norwegian.
“Of these 22 confirmed cases, 18 are in the Western Cape, three in Gauteng, and one in KwaZulu-Natal,” the department said.
“All patients are male except one.”
In collaboration with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, the World Health Organization, and other partners, the department said it was supporting the Western Cape Provincial Department of Health to implement response measures, including contact tracing and enhanced surveillance.
“The public is reminded that Mpox symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, and a rash or skin lesions that can appear on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or other areas of the body,” the statement said.
“Anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed case within the past 21 days and develops symptoms should seek medical attention promptly and inform healthcare providers of their exposure history.
“While most cases remain concentrated in the Western Cape, the identification of transmission clusters and cases across multiple provinces highlights the need for sustained public cooperation, early detection, and continued surveillance to prevent further spread.”
The Department of Health said it will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as new information becomes available.
