South African health authorities have called for heightened public vigilance after three new laboratory-confirmed cases of Mpox were reported in the country over the past week.
In a statement on Saturday, the Department of Health reported that the first case was identified on February 21 and involved a patient from Gauteng province’s Ekurhuleni area who recently travelled to Uganda.
He was diagnosed with Grade I Mpox virus, which is currently circulating in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
The other two confirmed cases were also from Ekurhuleni and were detected through comprehensive contact tracing efforts led by outbreak response teams.
“All three cases are now recovering and self-isolating at home,” the statement said.
Symptoms associated with Mpox include a rash lasting two to four weeks, swollen glands, fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and back pain.
While officials have reassured citizens that there was no immediate cause for alarm, they stressed the need for continued vigilance regarding potential transmission.
It encouraged people experiencing symptoms – regardless of travel history or known exposure – to seek medical attention promptly.
Residents were reminded to practice good hygiene habits such as regular handwashing with soap or alcohol-based sanitisers before meals and after using restrooms to help curb any potential outbreaks within communities.
The latest development raises South Africa’s total number of positive Mpox cases since May last year from 25 to 28, including three fatalities.
These are the first recorded cases for 2025 following an absence of infections since September 2024.
