South Africa’s second monkeypox case has been diagnosed in Cape Town.

South Africa’s second monkeypox case has been diagnosed in Cape Town.

Laboratory-based testing on Tuesday confirmed a 32-year-old man as positive with the viral disease.

National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said that the patient had reported no recent travel history.

Health Department spokesperson, Foster Mohale, emphasised that Minister Joe Phaahla has called on the public to be vigilant.

“The source and linkage of cases remain under investigation as the Department of Health is working closely with the NICD to assess the risk of local transmission in collaboration with the World Health Organization in line with international health regulations.”

NICD executive director, Professor Adrian Puren, said that contact tracing had commenced in order to identify any other related cases of monkeypox in South Africa.

“Monkeypox has a low level of transmissibility. This case should not be a reason for panic. South Africans are urged to keep a close eye for these particular symptoms such as fever, intense headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes and a skin rash or lesions and to report these to their healthcare professional for further management and testing.”

 

Source: EWN

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