As South Africa this week recorded two additional confirmed cases of mpox – bringing the total to 22 since the outbreak began in May – a leading infectious disease specialist has cautioned that there were more cases in the community, with current statistics representing an underestimate. The latest cases include a 40-year-old Joburg man, diagnosed last week at a private facility in Durban. The other was a 26-year-old man from Nqutu in KwaZulu-Natal, who presented with an mpox-like rash.
Despite the number of deaths remaining at three, the department of health has advised the public to remain cautious. Only severe cases diagnosed Tygerberg Hospital infectious disease specialist and University of Stellenbosch academic Dr Jantjie Taljaard said the number of diagnosed cases only reflected “the more severe, presenting for medical care”. “Most people with mpox have a mild transient illness and do not present for medical care – hence remaining undiagnosed.
“There are most certainly more cases in the community and the current number is an underestimate of the current outbreak,” said Taljaard. “Mpox transmits through direct contact with the skin lesions – in this outbreak, mostly through intimate sexual contact. “ Sars-CoV-2 transmits through the air and does not need close skin contact to transmit.
“ Initially , nobody had SarsCoV-2 immunity and everyone – especially the elderly – were highly susceptible to become ill,” he said. Taljaard said most elderl.