How Mpox Is Unfolding In Sa: From 1 To 13 Cases In 6 Weeks

In early May, a new case of mpox was reported in South Africa, the first since 2022.

By 21 June, South Africa had 13 laboratory-confirmed mpox cases in three provinces (Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape). Two people have died. So far, all cases required hospitalisation.

Of the first seven cases, reported by 14 June, all were HIV positive and five identified as men who have sex with men.

Mpox cases have been reported in 118 countries in the past two years, says the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). By May this year, there had been 95 912 cases across the world.

The NICD says the virus is likely spreading locally, as none of the first seven cases of the current outbreak reported having travelled internationally. The first (index) patient could possibly have been infected by an international traveller who visited South Africa, the Institute says.

Analyses (from three cases by 12 June) showed that the specific type of the monkeypox virus (called a clade) thats spreading in South Africa is the same one (clade 2b) as the type that caused outbreaks in Western Europe and the United Kingdom, the health department says .

The South African health department will start to vaccinate four groups of people men who have sex with men, sex workers, health and lab workers against the monkeypox virus as soon as jabs arrive in the country.

The first batch of TPOXX treatment, pills that contain the antiviral drug tecovirimat , has arrived in South Africa, the health department announced on Thursday .

Weve put graphics, press releases and other content on the mpox outbreak together here so that you can track how the outbreak has unfolded and see any updates when something changes.

In todays newsletter , Mia Malan, Linda Pretorius and Zano Kunene explain how mpox is unfolding in South Africa. Sign up now .

Thirteen mpox cases, all men between 23 and 39 years old, have been recorded in the country so far, from three provinces. The first seven cases, reported by 14 June, were all HIV positive and five of those identified as men who have sex with men . All patients so far have had to get hospital treatment. Two have died.

Use the interactive map to see the details.

On 13 May, the health department asked for public vigilance about mpox after the first case was diagnosed on 8 May.

Read the press release here .