Mpox in South Africa: What you need to know about symptoms, spread, and treatment
South Africa has recorded 22 Mpox cases, prompting renewed attention to how the virus spreads, its symptoms, treatment, and ways to reduce risk.
South Africa is experiencing a rise in mpox cases, with 22 confirmed infections reported across three provinces. The Western Cape is the hardest hit, accounting for 18 cases, followed by Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Most affected are male individuals aged between 23 and 50, though recent cases involve a 47-year-old Cape Town man who recently traveled to Spain.
Symptoms of mpox include a rash or skin lesions, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, tiredness, and swollen lymph nodes. Most people recover, but some develop more severe illness. Transmission primarily occurs through close physical contact with an infected person or contact with infected animals. Early detection and seeking medical attention can help limit transmission.
South Africa has secured limited supplies of the MVA-BN mpox vaccine, which may be used in the response.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
