The Health Department Tested A Positive Case Of Monkey Pox In Gauteng

Picture Courtesy: (World Health Organization (WHO)) Mpox, Formally known as monkeypox disease that causes painful rashes, swollen lmpyh nodes and fever.

(The Post News)– The Gauteng provincial health department and the Minister of Health, Dr. Joe Phaala, issued a call for more vigilance among healthcare providers and the public after confirming a positive case of Mpox, which is formally known as monkeypox in the Gauteng province. The case was detected in a 35-year-old male patient who tested positive for the disease on May 9.

The case was tested by Lancet Laboratory, and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) later confirmed the case and instantly informed the health department about the presence of the virus. Mpox is an infectious disease that is caused by the monkeypox virus, resulting in swollen lymph nodes, fever, and a painful rash. Although individuals can get infected through kissing, touching, or sexual intercourse, Most individuals heal after weeks, but some could get gravely ill.

This is a concerning development in the province’s public health landscape, given that the monkeypox virus is not commonly found in this part of the world. Since the past year (2023), the outbreak of the virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been ongoing due to a distinct MPVX clade l, which is known to be highly transmissible and can cause more severe infections than clade ll.

Investigations indicate that the 35-year-old patient has no history of travel recently, especially to countries with the outbreak of the virus. The national departments and Gauteng region are in control of the situation, as protocol and national guidelines suggest, while the patient is receiving appropriate medical care. Efforts are underway to monitor and identify individuals who may have come into close contact. “Contact tracing is continuing, identifying any linked cases of monkeypox in South Africa,” said the health department.

As the public is educated about monkeypox, the department is distributing material with information regarding the disease, stressing safety precautions such as avoiding animals that could carry the virus, practicing good hygiene, and being cautious when in contact with individuals that may have symptoms. As cases of monkeypox have increased globally in recent years,this diagnosis is a reminder of vigilance against transmissible diseases.

The Gauteng Health Department proceeds to stress the fact that while there is no immediate cause for alarm, public cooperation is significant in guaranteeing effective control and prevention of monkeypox spreading in communities.