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Colourised transmission electron micrograph of mpox virus particles (red) found within an infected cell (blue) cultured in the laboratory. (NIH-NIAID/IMAGE POINT FR/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
A 40-year-old man from Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, has died of Mpox.This brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases of the disease to 16 since its outbreak in May. The Border Management Authority said travellers would be screened for any symptoms at various ports of entry.Another person has died of Mpox in KwaZulu-Natal, raising the death toll to three since the outbreak of the disease in May.
According to the Department of Health, the 40-year-old man from Ladysmith, who presented with Mpox-like symptoms including a rash, died at his home.
Department spokesperson Foster Mohale said the man did not go to a hospital.
“His results came back positive for Mpox on the 23 June 2024,” Mohale said.
This brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases of Mpox to 16 and confirmed deaths to three in the latest outbreak.
Meanwhile, Mohale said two new cases of Mpox were confirmed in Mamelodi and Johannesburg in Gauteng.
“A 43-year-old man was diagnosed on 22 June 2024 at a local private health facility in Johannesburg, and a 29-year-old male was diagnosed in Mamelodi health facility on 21 June 2024.
“They presented with symptoms indicative of [the] disease and had no international travel history,” Mohale said.
“All [16] cases are males, aged between 23-43 years old. The department, working with provinces and other stakeholders in the sector, has embarked on a health education [initiative] with funeral parlours on how to handle the human remains of the demised due to suspected and confirmed Mpox.”
A breakdown of cases:
A breakdown of Mpox cases. (Supplied/Department of Health)
The department said the virus was not highly transmissible from person to person and that most people fully recovered, “but some get very sick”.
Mohale said that Mpox presented as an acute illness characterised by fever and general flu-like symptoms, followed by the eruption of a blister-like rash on the skin. The disease was rarely fatal and cases typically resolved within two to four weeks. Most cases did not require hospital treatment.
He added that the risk to the general population was considered low, given the low transmissibility of the virus.
Screenings
Mohale allayed fears of possible travel bans or lockdowns due to the Mpox outbreak as the World Health Organisation had not recommended any restrictions.
He said it was, however, important for travellers from Mpox-endemic countries to seek healthcare if they were ill and to alert health officials about their travel for clinical guidance.
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The commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Michael Masiapato, announced that the BMA port health officials had developed an outbreak preparedness plan for dealing with Mpox.
The response plan has been activated, because 13 cases have been confirmed by the National Department of Health.
The BMA said it was implementing screenings at various ports of entry including air, land and sea.
Masiapato said travellers would be subjected to thermal screening for checking temperature.
He said:
Should the traveller present with an elevated temperature, such a traveller will be isolated and assisted with further screening. This will involve interviews to establish experiencing of other symptoms.
“The BMA port health officers will also conduct their own general and non-invasive observation of the traveller under investigation.”
He said arrangements had been made with ambulance services from the health department for referral to healthcare facilities if necessary.
The MBA is also in close collaboration with the communicable disease facilities in the districts to respond swiftly and ensure immediate reporting of any suspected traveller that meets the Mpox disease symptom profile.
“At this stage, there have been no incidents of Mpox suspicions detected in the ports of entry thus far,” Masiapato added.
People have been urged to go to their nearest healthcare facility should they present with any symptoms.
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