South Africa records first confirmed death from Mpox.
A 37-year-old man in South Africa has succumbed to Mpox virus, marking the country’s first fatality from the disease, as confirmed by Health Minister Joe Phaahla.
The man was admitted to a hospital in Gauteng province and passed away three days later.
According to reports from the BBC, all five cases reported in the country this year, one in Gauteng and three in KwaZulu-Natal, have been severe, necessitating hospital care.
The patients, all men aged between 30 and 39, had not traveled to countries experiencing outbreaks, indicating local transmission.
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Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral infection spread through close contact.
Initial symptoms include fever, headaches, swelling, back pain, and muscle aches, which can progress to a rash.
What you need to know about Mpox, formerly called monkeypox. pic.twitter.com/guUvNtMfCT
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Although the World Health Organization declared an end to the Mpox outbreak in 2022, sporadic cases continue to be reported in some countries.
“This loss of life is tragic, especially from a preventable and manageable disease,” stated Phaahla, urging anyone with suspected symptoms to seek medical attention and assist in contact tracing.
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He noted that all five diagnosed patients had pre-existing immunodeficiencies and contracted the disease since May.
Authorities are monitoring anyone who came into contact with the deceased for 21 days.
As South Africa records first confirmed death from Mpox, the first human case of Mpox was reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970, where the disease remains endemic, according to WHO.
