Healthcare Alerts | Infectious Diseases

Department of Health urges patients to  adhere to treatments as Mpox cases increase
 

Source: DoH Press Release 14 June 2024

The Department of Health has urged all individuals on medication to strictly adhere to their prescribed treatments to reduce the risk of severe complications from Mpox and other diseases.

The advisory comes amid a rise in confirmed cases of Mpox over the last two months. To date, seven patients have been diagnosed, two of whom have passed away. Four cases occurred in KZN, two in Gauteng and one in the Western Cape.  All seven were hospitalised and had chronic conditions like HIV, suggesting a high probability of the role of immunocompromisation in the current outbreak.

The latest confirmed Mpox case is a 39-year-old male in Cape Town who tested positive on 13 June 2024. 

Meanwhile, the department is set to receive a supply of tecovirimat, a treatment which has proven effective in preventing mpox-related morbidity and mortality, particularly when administered within a few days of incubation and diagnosis

Ongoing efforts to contain the outbreak include surveillance, contact tracing, and health education to understand the disease's burden and empower informed health choices. The DoH reiterated that effective contact tracing relies on the accuracy and cooperation of confirmed and suspected cases.


Access more articles related to Mpox

14 May 2024 | Calls for vigilance as new case of Monkeypox  confirmed

Access Original Press Release

14 June 2024 | DOH issues MPOX update (PDF)

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