Total number of South African Mpox cases now stands at 7 amid 2 deaths

The ICD's Dr Jacqueline Weyer at the media briefing on the Mpox outbreak, in Pretoria on 12 June 2024. The Health Department reported that two more cases of Mpox had been detected at Addington and St Augustine hospitals in Durban. (Photo: Gallo Images / Lefty Shivambu)

By Naledi Sikhakhane

12 Jun 2024

The department of health has urged all people taking medication for any health condition to adhere to treatment as per guidance of the healthcare provider to minimise the risk of serious health complications in case they contract mpox and other diseases.

Friday evening update

Mpox numbers have now risen to seven, and the health department is urging people living with chronic illnesses to take medication routinely to avoid compromising their immune systems.

In a statement released on Friday, the department of health urged all people taking medication for any health condition to adhere to treatment as per guidance of the healthcare provider to minimise the risk of serious health complications in case they contract mpox and other diseases.

“As the total number of mpox positive cases increases to seven, the Department has noted that all cases/patients are living with chronic illness such as HIV, which suggests a high probability of being immunocompromised unless adherent to prescribed treatment,” the statement read

“Treatment adherence can prevent new or worsening health problems, and failure to adhere to your prescriptions can negatively impact the quality of your life,”

The latest confirmed case is a 39-year-old male patient who was admitted on 28 May 2024 at a local private health facility in Cape Town, Western Cape who tested positive for mpox on Thursday, 13 June 2024 by a private laboratory.

The patient presented with extensive lesions and he is RVD positive with unknown CD4.

“Just like case number six, the latest patient listed his residential address as Northcliff, Gauteng,”

This article was updated at 19.30 on Friday 14 June

During a media briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday, Minister of Health Joe Phaahla announced that South Africa had recorded five laboratory-confirmed cases of Mpox and one death, by Thursday a second death had been reported.

The first death was recorded on Monday, 10 June 2024 at Tembisa Hospital in Gauteng, and the second in KwaZulu-Natal at a hospital in uMgungundlovu on Wednesday, 12 June. All patients are males aged between 30 and 39 with no history of travel to the countries currently experiencing an outbreak, which suggests there is local transmission of the infectious disease.

In a statement, Phaahla said the second victim (38) was admitted after presenting with extensive lesions, lymphadenopathy, headache, fatigue, oral ulcers, muscle pain and sore throat. He had been living with HIV, and listed his residential address as Brakpan, Gauteng. The department was working closely with the Gauteng and KZN health departments to investigate the case.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), initial symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, chills and exhaustion. Within one to three days of the onset of disease, blister-like lesions develop on the face and the extremities including soles of the feet and palms.

“At the current moment, there is no registered treatment for Mpox in South Africa. However, the World Health Organization recommends the use of Tecovirimat (known as TPOXX) for treatment of severe cases, such as in individuals with a CD4 count of less than 350. However, the department has obtained Tecovirimat via Section 21 Sahpra approval on compassionate use basis for the five known patients with severe disease,” Phaahla said.

He noted that Mpox is severe in patients who are immune compromised.

Mpox (Photo: iStock)

Three of the five cases had access to Tecovirimat treatment guided by the institute.

“The drug was obtained via Section 21 and the Sahpra approval process; and donated by the WHO. Sahpra has since approved a request for a small stockpile of Tecovirimat, which the WHO will support as a donation. Our intention is to obtain a stockpile of Tecovirimat treatment for rapid deployment in case the current situation leads to a wider outbreak. The stock will be donated by the WHO,” he added

Read more about Mpox here.

Phaahla said they are looking into who will be the priority target for these vaccinations, including high-risk groups such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, and health and laboratory workers.

The minister said civil society organisations and other stakeholders had been called on to help with education efforts, and he warned against spreading discrimination and stigma against groups that have been found to present with Mpox.

“The department, working together with partner organisations, has intensified both targeted and public awareness using various channels of communications to empower the citizens with crucial information related to Mpox to make well-informed health decisions. As part of additional efforts to increase opportunity for engagement, a clinical management webinar has been convened and was attended by 500 healthcare workers and public health professionals from across the country.”

Mpox The ICD's Dr Jacqueline Weyer at the media briefing on the Mpox outbreak, in Pretoria on 12 June 2024. The Health Department reported that two more cases of Mpox had been detected at Addington and St Augustine hospitals in Durban. (Photo: Gallo Images / Lefty Shivambu)

The department said the most important intervention at present remains risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), which is being implemented, including addressing the high-risk population without discriminating, thereby avoiding stigma. We are also reaching out to organisations working with the HIV programmes and key populations such as the MSM to reach their members since they fall under the category of people at risk.

Read more in Daily Maverick: Health department reports second SA mpox death — here’s what you need to know

“Although the World Health Organization has not recommended any travel restrictions, it is important for travellers to and from endemic countries to alert health officials on the situation to enable them to provide guidance for case detection and management. We can prevent further spread of this infectious disease if those with suspected symptoms, or who were in contact with known cases/patients, present themselves at healthcare facilities on time for early diagnosis and effective treatment,” said Phaahla.

One death is too many, especially from a preventable and manageable disease like Mpox.

According to the NICD, Mpox is caused by “infection with monkeypox virus, a member of the genus Orthopoxvirus in the family Poxviridae. There are currently more than 80 poxviruses known to science and these poxviruses have been isolated from different species of birds, insects, reptiles, marsupials and mammals.” DM

What you need to know about Mpox (Monkeypox)

What is Mpox? Mpox, or monkeypox, is an illness caused by the monkeypox virus. It is a viral infection that can spread between people and occasionally from the environment to people via contaminated surfaces.

Symptoms: Common symptoms include rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, and swollen glands. Severe cases can lead to complications and even death, especially in high-risk groups like newborns, children, pregnant individuals, and those with compromised immune systems.

How it Spreads: From person to person through close contact, including respiratory droplets and contact with bodily fluids. Virus can also persist on surfaces and objects touched by an infected person. From animals to humans through physical contact, such as bites, scratches, or handling of infected animals.

Prevention Tips: Avoid close contact with infected individuals. Practice good hand hygiene. Avoid consuming undercooked meat from animals.

New Terminology: WHO now uses "mpox" as a preferred term for monkeypox.

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What you need to know about Mpox (Monkeypox)