One of the five monkeypox (Mpox) patients in South Africa died on Monday at Tembisa Hospital in Gauteng.

This is according to Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla, who said that two cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in Gauteng and three in KZN.

In all cases, patients are males aged between 30 to 39, with no travel history to countries currently experiencing an outbreak.

This suggests there is local transmission of the infectious disease in the country, Phaala said when addressing the media in Pretoria today.

According to the minister, the deceased was originally from KZN but has not been home since December.

Phaahla said all five patients are classified as severe cases, as per the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) definition requiring hospitalisation.

The patients have comorbidities and have been identified as key populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM), he added.

One of the patients has been discharged from hospital, one is isolating at home, and two are still in hospital.

Phaahla explained that the sequencing analysis of three of the cases revealed Mpox clade IIb, a variant dominant in the multi-country and post-outbreak, which began in 2022.

“The last time South Africa recorded positive cases of Mpox was in 2022, when five cases were confirmed in the Western Cape, KZN, Limpopo and Gauteng. No cases were reported in 2023.

“So, the one in our country is consistent with the multi-country outbreaks in various parts of the world and different from the strain variant in the DRC,” he explained.

Contact tracing

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases, the minister said, continues with epidemiological and surveillance activities to identify cases for investigation to estimate the magnitude of disease through systematic data collection and analysis.

Thirty-eight contacts have been identified in KZN.

One of the patients indicated that he had sexual contact with multiple partners, male and female, Phaala said.

The Outbreak Response Team has embarked on contact tracing and case finding in the affected provinces.

Vaccine

There is no registered treatment for Mpox in South Africa.

However, the minister said WHO recommends using Tecovirimat, also known as TPOXX, for treating severe cases, such as in individuals with a CD4 count of less than 350.

He said the department has obtained TPOXX via Section 21 South African Health Products Regulatory Authority approval on a compassionate use basis for known patients with severe disease.

The department is looking to obtain vaccines and considering various options, including who will be the priority target in terms of immunisation, Phaala said.

He believes that high-risk groups should be prioritised, including sex workers, MSM, healthcare workers, and laboratory workers.

The department, working with partner organisations, has intensified targeted and public awareness to empower citizens with crucial information related to Mpox.

The minister emphasised the importance of managing stigma for key populations at risk, while there have been no recommendations for any travel restrictions.

“I think one can safely say that, especially for adults, anybody who develops those kinds of eruptions on their skin, even if you may think it might be chickenpox, even young people, should seek medical attention.”

He said government endeavours to prevent further deaths. – SAnews.gov.za