Mpox Outbreak Remains Under Control Dispite Suspected cases
The Department of Health has reassured South Africa that the current Monkeypox, or Mpox, disease outbreak remains under control.
This is despite several suspected cases reported across the country due to heightened awareness and surveillance activities, the department said on Thursday.
The Gauteng Department of Education retracted a statement this morning after it said a case of the infectious disease was reported at a Hammanskraal school in Gauteng.
The provincial department admitted that it may have “acted prematurely” in confirming the case without verification from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and apologised for the confusion.
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According to the Department of Health, there have been 22 positive cases reported since May of this year. This includes 16 recoveries, three deaths and three active cases.
“Thus, the department would like to urge people who experience suspected Mpox symptoms, with or without international travel history, to present themselves to a health facility for clinical observation, confine themselves to one place and avoid gatherings until their laboratory test results are available,” a statement read.
The department said suspected cases are treated with confidentiality during contact tracing and case investigation.
Mpox Outbreak Remains Under Control Dispite Suspected cases