South Africa reports first monkeypox death
South African Health Minister Joe Phahra reported on the 12th that South Africa has confirmed five cases of monkeypox since May this year, one of which died.
Fahla said at a press conference that the five patients diagnosed with monkeypox were all male, aged between 30 and 39, three of whom were from KwaZulu-Natal and two from Gauteng. None of them had a history of travel to countries with monkeypox outbreaks, indicating that monkeypox was locally transmitted in South Africa.
Fahla said that all five patients were severe cases requiring hospitalization. Among them, a patient from Gauteng Province died at Tembisa Hospital in Johannesburg on the 10th. Two people are still hospitalized for treatment, and the other two have been discharged.
Fahra pointed out that the epidemic response team composed of experts from the World Health Organization and other relevant departments is tracking and monitoring close contacts in the two provinces. Fabian Ndenzako, a doctor of the WHO in South Africa, said that they are working with the South African government to provide drugs for patients diagnosed with monkeypox, and related vaccines are also being prepared to be shipped to South Africa. He said that since none of the five cases had a history of travel, there may be a large number of monkeypox cases in South Africa.
South Africa reported five cases of monkeypox and no deaths in 2022, and no cases of monkeypox in 2023.
Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis that is not easily transmitted from person to person, but can be contracted through close contact with an infected person. The initial symptoms of monkeypox in humans include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, etc., which can then develop into a large rash on the face and body. Most infected people recover within a few weeks, but some become seriously ill or even die.
