South Africa is facing a surge in Mpox infections, with 22 laboratory-confirmed cases now recorded across three provinces, the Department of Health has confirmed.
Of the 22 cases, 18 are in the Western Cape, three in Gauteng and one in KwaZulu-Natal, according to departmental spokesperson Foster Mohale.
“All these patients are male except one,” Mohale said.
The department, together with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), said contact tracing and heightened surveillance are underway, supported by the World Health Organization and other partners.
Health officials said one case involves a 47-year-old man who arrived from Cape Town in Spain earlier this month, while two others are imported infections — one in a Norwegian citizen and one in a German national.
Authorities are urging vigilance as the virus spreads. Anyone who has been in contact with a confirmed case in the last 21 days has been advised to consult a doctor immediately and monitor for symptoms.
Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue and rash or skin lesions that can appear on any part of the body.
The Western Cape Department of Health has intensified its response with contact tracing and increased surveillance as the national department continues to monitor the rise.
Mpox first emerged in South Africa in 2022, with early infections linked mainly to international travel.
However, a new outbreak was declared in May 2024 after the first confirmed case had no recent travel history — a clear sign of local transmission.
Although cases have since been detected in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, health officials have not been able to determine exactly when or how the virus first entered the country.
