Move over COVID-19, there’s another virus that’s got the world’s attention right now: monkeypox.
Since mid-May this year, after the United Kingdom was notified of cases of the disease, which is non-endemic to the area, monkeypox has been on the Northern Hemisphere’s radar and now the world’s thanks to our post-pandemic obsession with any virus outbreaks.
However, in good news for Mzansi, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed that there are no monkeypox cases in South Africa.
The NICD confirmed the news in a statement recently and expressed more information about the virus.
“Most cases are mild and present with lesions on the genitalia or peri-genital areas. Additional symptoms include rash, fever, painful lymph nodes, and oral ulcers. Possible transmission between sexual partners may occur due to contact during sex with infectious skin and mucosal (including oral) lesions, as sexual transmission of monkeypox has not yet been proven. Genital lesions have previously been uncommon and reflect a unique aspect of this outbreak,” the NICD said.
Of the implications for South Africa, the NICD’s Executive Director, Prof Adrian Puren said that risks include importation of the virus, and linked this as part of “lessons learnt from COVID-19”.
No travel restrictions have been implemented or recommended by the World Health Organisation.
Of testing capabilities, the NICD notes that it is equipped to test for the virus thanks to the Centre for Emerging, Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases (CEZPD) which has a “diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in place and electron-microscopy capacity”.
Also read:
#Monkeypox – here’s what you need to know about the viral pinch
Picture: UK Health Security Agency/Science Photo Library