The Department of Health has confirmed an increase in Mpox cases from 18 to 22 as of September 22, prompting renewed calls for the public to know the symptoms and seek medical assistance early.
Among the latest cases recorded is a 47-year-old man from Cape Town who travelled to Spain earlier this month. The department said the man was previously classified as a probable case pending laboratory results from Spanish health authorities.
The confirmation of a positive test has resulted in the case being reclassified as laboratory-confirmed and included in the updated count.
The Health Department emphasised that Mpox is a viral disease that can affect anyone. It can present with a range of symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue and a rash or skin lesions. These lesions can appear on the face, hands, feet and genitals, or other areas of the body.
People are therefore urged to recognise symptoms and seek medical care early, particularly if they suspect they have been exposed.
In addition to the newly confirmed case involving travel, the department reported that the other three cases include two imported infections involving German and Norwegian citizens. With the latest update, the Department of Health said 22 confirmed cases have been recorded across the country.
Of those confirmed cases, 18 are in the Western Cape, three in Gauteng, and one in KwaZulu-Natal. The department further stated that all patients but one are male.
The Health Department spokesperson, Foster Mohale, said the department, in collaboration with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners, is supporting the Western Cape Health Department in implementing response measures.
These measures include contact tracing and enhanced surveillance in the province, as authorities work to track possible exposure routes and identify any further transmissions.
Mohale said: “Anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed case within the past 21 days and develops symptoms should seek medical attention promptly and inform healthcare providers of their exposure history,” Mohale said.
With most cases still concentrated in the Western Cape, the department noted that the identification of transmission clusters and cases across multiple provinces demonstrates why consistent public cooperation remains critical.
Mohale said: “While most cases remain concentrated in the Western Cape, Mohale said the identification of transmission clusters and cases across multiple provinces highlights the need for sustained public co-operation, early detection, and continued surveillance to prevent further spread.”
Authorities also stressed that the response will continue as the situation evolves, with a focus on early identification, testing, and follow-up.
Mohale said: “The Department of Health will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as new information becomes available,” Mohale said.
As the updated figure is released, residents are reminded to pay attention to symptoms and to act quickly if they have had close contact with a confirmed case in the last three weeks. The Health Department’s emphasis on informing healthcare providers of exposure history aims to speed up assessment and ensure that suspected cases are managed appropriately.
For now, the public health effort remains centred on surveillance and contact tracing, while provincial teams continue to strengthen monitoring and response measures to reduce the risk of further spread.
