Mpox cases rise to 13 as health department secures first treatment batch

South Africa has detected six more laboratory-confirmed cases of Mpox, bringing the total number of cases to 13.

Seven of the cases were confirmed in KwaZulu-Natal, five in Gauteng and one in the Western Cape.

This as the national department has received the first batch of Mpox-specific treatment, Tecovirimat, also known as TPOXX or ST-246, for treatment of patients who experience severe health complications.

The process to secure more treatment, including a vaccine, is under way in case the need arises, said department spokesperson Foster Mohale.

All mild cases will continue to be managed with supportive treatment used to manage complications such as fever, pneumonia and skin infections, he said.

Of the initial six patients, the Bhekisisa health journalism centre said they required hospitalisation, as all were also infected with HIV and most were not on antiretroviral drugs.

“HIV-positive people who are on antiretroviral drugs, and take their medicine correctly, have good immune systems. But about a quarter, or 2-million, of South Africa’s estimated 7.8-million people infected with HIV are not on treatment. These people have a much higher chance of ending up in hospital with Mpox than the general population,” the report said.

The department urged all people regardless of gender, age and sexual orientation with suspected Mpox symptoms, or who had physical contact with known cases, to present themselves at a healthcare facility for clinical evaluation “because anyone can contract this preventable and treatable disease”.

Mohale said good hand hygiene is one of the ways to protect people from getting sick and prevent transmission.

Common symptoms of Mpox include a rash which may last for two to four weeks, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen glands (lymph nodes). The painful rash looks like blisters or sores, and can affect the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet and groin.

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