By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Department of Health (DOH) is ramping up its vaccination drive against the Mpox disease as South Africa sees a steady rise in infections.
The programme will target Gauteng, the Western Cape and Kwazulu-Natal (KZN).
The number of confirmed cases has risen to 10 since the beginning of the year, after two people from Cape Town and Johannesburg tested positive for the virus.
The patient, a 32-year-old man from Cape Town, is among two newly reported cases, with the second being a 45-year-old man from Johannesburg.
Both individuals have no recent travel history to regions experiencing mpox outbreaks.
Health department spokesperson Foster Mohale said they are embarking on a vaccination drive against mpox amid the rise in the number of cases.
“The vaccination programme will target the most affected provinces, which currently include Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).”
Mohale said both patients have not travelled out of the country.
“Vaccination helps to control the spread of this preventable and manageable disease, with vaccinated individuals being protected from becoming infected and from developing severe complications.
Members of the public are urged to be extra vigilant of mpox symptoms, and those who suspect that they are at risk of mpox infection are advised to consult their nearest health facility or healthcare provider for screening and testing, and to find out if they are eligible for this life-saving vaccination, “Mohale said.
Mohale added that priority will be given to people at a higher risk of contracting the virus.
He said the department received around 10 500 doses of the mpox vaccine, Imvanex, as a donation from the Africa Centres for Disease Control through the Access and Allocation Mechanism for mpox, in an effort to combat the various mpox outbreaks in the African continent.
Common symptoms of Mpox include a rash which may last for 2 – 4 weeks, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen glands (lymph nodes). The rash looks like blisters or sores, and can affect the face, palms of the hands, or soles of the feet.