“The department can confirm that these reports are entirely untrue. There have been no confirmed cases of mpox in Phalaborwa or anywhere in Limpopo,” said Neil Shikwambana, departmental spokesperson. The rumour started after an elderly woman allegedly visited a clinic and was apparently told she had mpox.

Photos of the said infliction were spread on social media and other media channels. According to National Institute of Communicable Diseases states that mpox (previously named monkeypox) is caused by infection with the mpox virus, a member of the genus Orthopoxvirus in the family Poxviridae.

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nitial symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, chills and exhaustion. Within 1-3 days of onset of disease, blisterlike lesions will develop on the face, the extremities including soles of the feet and palms of the hands. The lesions may however occur on other parts of the body. Anyone with these symptoms need to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Shikwambana concluded by stating that the department remains committed to monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates promptly if there are any developments.