- In early May, a new case of mpox was reported in South Africa, the first since 2022.
- By 25 June, South Africa had 16 laboratory-confirmed mpox cases and three deaths in three provinces (Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape). All but one case (the latest death — a 40-year-old man who died at home) were hospitalised.
- Of the first seven cases, reported by 14 June, all were HIV positive and five identified as men who have sex with men. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says almost all cases had co-morbidities (an illness which weakened their immune system and therefore increased their chances for falling seriously ill with mpox).
- Mpox cases have been reported in 118 countries in the past two years, says the NICD. By May this year, there had been 95 912 cases across the world.
- The NICD says the virus is likely spreading locally, as none of the first seven cases of the current outbreak reported having travelled internationally. The first (index) patient could possibly have been infected by an international traveller who visited South Africa, the Institute says.
- Analyses (from three cases by 12 June) showed that the specific type of the monkeypox virus (called a clade) that’s spreading in South Africa is the same one (clade 2b) as the type that caused outbreaks in Western Europe and the United Kingdom, the health department says.
- The South African health department will start to vaccinate four groups of people — men who have sex with men, sex workers, health and lab workers — against the monkeypox virus as soon as jabs arrive in the country.
- The first batch of TPOXX treatment, pills that contain the antiviral drug tecovirimat, has arrived in South Africa, the health department announced on Thursday.
- We’ve put graphics, press releases and other content on the mpox outbreak together here so that you can track how the outbreak has unfolded — and see any updates when something changes.
Mpox in South Africa: 8 May to 25 June 2024
Mpox cases in South Africa
Sixteen mpox cases, all men between 23 and 43 years old, have been recorded in the country so far, from three provinces. The first seven cases, reported by 14 June, were all HIV positive and five of those identified as men who have sex with men. All but one patient so far have had to get hospital treatment. Three have died.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says almost all cases had co-mordidites (an illness which weakend their immune system and therefore increased their chances for falling seriously ill with mpox).
Use the interactive map to see the details.
Timeline of health department announcements
13 May 2024: The health department asked for “public vigilance” about mpox after the first case was diagnosed on 8 May. Read the press release.
27 May 2024: The second case, a 39-year-old man from KwaZulu-Natal, is reported. Read the press release.
5 June 2024: Two more cases are reported, both from KwaZulu-Natal. Read the press release.
11 June 2024: The health department announces a press briefing to be held on 12 June. Here’s the notice.
12 June 2024: At a press briefing on 12 June, the health department announces a fifth case, who had died on 10 June. This was the first death recorded in this outbreak.
At the briefing the health minister, Joe Phaahla, and experts from the NICD and the World Health Organisation answered questions about the outbreak. Read Phaahla’s speech here. We also posted a thread afterwards.
13 June 2024: An announcement of the sixth case, reported from KwaZulu-Natal on 12 June, was made The patient passed away the same day as the diagnosis was confirmed. Read the press release.
14 June 2024:
- A seventh case is reported, from the Western Cape. Read the press release.
- The African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention earlier announced that all seven cases in South Africa were classified as severe and required hospitalisation. “All cases are male, between the ages of 30 and 39 with co-morbidities (HIV positive), and five of the seven identified as “men who have sex with men,” they said. Read the press release here.
20 June 2024: Six more cases are announced, three from KwaZulu-Natal and three from Gauteng. Read the press release.
25 June 2024: Three more mpox cases, of which one person died are announced. Two of the cases are from Gauteng (Johannesburg, Mamelodi) and one from KwaZulu-Natal (Ladysmith). The person who died was the case from KwaZulu-Natal — a 40-year-old male. Read the press release.
More coverage
Want to know more about mpox and the South African outbreak? Mia Malan wrote about it and also spoke to Jacqueline Weyer of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. Read the full podcast transcript.
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