Mpox Outbreak in South Africa : South Africa’s First Mpox Death After Five Cases Confirmed | The Mighty 790 KFGO

By | June 12, 2024

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Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. South Africa COVID-19 death
2. South Africa coronavirus update

A 37-year-old man has tragically become South Africa’s first recorded death from mpox, a viral infection causing flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Health Minister Joe Phaahla confirmed five laboratory-confirmed cases in the past month, all in men aged 30-39 without travel history to outbreak countries. Local transmission is suspected. All cases were severe, with co-morbidities and identified as key populations. Sequencing found the strain mpox clade IIb, spreading globally since 2022. The Republic of the Congo declared an epidemic in April after 19 cases. Mpox was first detected in humans in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970.

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1. South Africa coronavirus death toll
2. South Africa COVID-19 updates

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – A 37-year-old man tragically became South Africa’s first recorded fatality from mpox after five laboratory-confirmed cases of the viral infection were reported in the past month, the health minister revealed on Wednesday.

Details of the Incident

The man sadly passed away in Tembisa Hospital on Monday, Health Minister Joe Phaahla disclosed during a press briefing. Mpox, a contagious disease that spreads through close contact, manifests flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While most cases are mild, the infection can be fatal.

Demographics of the Cases

Phaahla highlighted that all of South Africa’s mpox cases were found in men aged between 30 and 39 years old, with no recent travel history to countries experiencing an outbreak. This indicates a local transmission of the infectious disease.

Severity of Cases

“All five cases were severe, requiring hospitalization. The patients had underlying health conditions and were identified as key populations, specifically men who have sex with men,” Phaahla informed the media. One patient has been discharged, another released for home isolation, and two remain hospitalized.

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Genetic Analysis

Sequencing of three cases revealed the strain mpox clade IIb, which began spreading globally in 2022. The Republic of the Congo declared an mpox epidemic in April after recording 19 cases of the virus. Mpox was initially discovered in humans in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970, according to the World Health Organization.

These recent developments have raised concerns among health officials and the public in South Africa. Efforts are being intensified to contain the spread of the virus and prevent further fatalities.