A worrying new case of Mpox has been confirmed in Cape Town, marking the latest development in a slowly growing outbreak across South Africa.
Health authorities are now on heightened alert after a 32-year-old local man tested positive, while another infection was simultaneously reported in Johannesburg, involving a 45-year-old male resident.
According to Smile FM, neither of the newly infected individuals had travelled recently to known Mpox hotspots, raising concerns about possible community transmission.
The National Department of Health has officially logged ten confirmed Mpox cases so far in 2025, with three of them surfacing in the Western Cape alone. Foster Mohale, spokesperson for the department, confirmed that the figures are ‘gradually increasing,’ prompting authorities to ramp up containment measures.
In response, the government has rolled out an urgent vaccination drive targeting the country’s most affected regions: Gauteng, the Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. Vaccines are now available through a network of public clinics, travel health centres, and participating private providers.
‘Vaccination is our strongest tool to prevent the spread of this disease,’ said Mohale. ‘It not only protects individuals from infection but also reduces the risk of developing severe symptoms.’
South Africa’s vaccine stockpile currently stands at around 10 500 doses of the Imvanex Mpox vaccine, a donation secured through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccine, which has received local approval under emergency regulations by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), has undergone safety assessments and is deemed suitable for limited use in high-risk groups.
These high-risk groups include individuals with multiple sexual partners, anyone who has had close physical contact with a confirmed Mpox patient, international travellers heading to outbreak zones, and in specific cases, pregnant women and children over the age of two.
Though the vaccine is generally safe, recipients may experience minor side effects such as soreness at the injection site, mild fever, muscle aches, or headaches, symptoms that usually subside within a few days.
Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, is a rare but potentially serious viral illness that spreads through close physical contact, including skin-to-skin exposure. Initial symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, muscle pain, and a distinct rash that may appear on the face, hands, or genitals.
Health officials are urging citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious symptoms. People who suspect they may have been exposed, or who fall within a vulnerable group, are encouraged to seek immediate advice about vaccination or screening.
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Picture: @WHOSouthAfrica / X
