South Africans are reacting to the country’s first confirmed case of monkeypox.
Image via Pixabay
‘We don’t need another pandemic’: SA reacts to first monkeypox case
‘We’ve just scrapped face masks, now this’: Social media users are freaking out over SA’s first confirmed case monkeypox…
South Africans are reacting to the country’s first confirmed case of monkeypox.
Image via Pixabay
On the first official day of scrapping face masks and other remaining Covid-19 regulations – South Africa has confirmed it’s the first case of monkeypox
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NCID) revealed that a Gauteng man had tested positive for the viral illness.
GAUTENG MAN GETS MONKEYPOX
On Thursday 23 June, when a full repeal of Covid-19 restrictions finally came into effect, the NCID tweeted news of the country’s first monkeypox case.
A statement read: “The case involves a 30-year-old male residing in the Gauteng province. He reports no recent travel history. Contact tracing has commenced, identifying any additional linked cases of monkeypox in South Africa”.
According to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, as of 20 June 2022, global infections have topped 2500. Statistics reveal that monkeypox cases have been reported in 42 countries, with 84% have been in the on the European continent.
HOW IS MONKEYPOX TRANSMITTED?
According to the NCID, monkeypox has a “low transmission rate” and does not spread in the same way as Covid-19 or the common flu.
Unlike Covid-19, monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 amongst a troop of monkeys used for research purposes. The first human case was recorded in 1970 in Congo.
The NCID shared in a series of tweets:
“Monkeypox spreads through close contact such as kissing, cuddling, or touching parts of the body with monkeypox lesions (wound). The virus is not very contagious and does not spread in the same way as viruses such as flu and COVID-19″
“Symptoms include fever and general flu-like symptoms, followed by the eruption of a blister-like rash on the skin. The disease is rarely fatal and cases typically resolve within two to four weeks. Most cases do not require hospital treatment”
“Monkeypox is a rare viral infection in humans. Any persons, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, can catch monkeypox if they have close contact with someone infected with the virus”
“Prevention of infection hinges on the isolation of cases until fully recovered. The risk to the general population is considered low, given the low transmissibility of the virus”
Twitter
TWEEPS QUESTION TIMING OF VIRAL ILLNESS
Despite the NCID revealing that monkeypox has a low transmission and fatality rate, social media users still questioned the “timing” of the announcement.
Influence Mihlali tweeted: “We don’t need another pandemic”.
Here is what other tweeps had to say:
@julius_thamana: “Government drops the wearing of masks then suddenly today there’s a case of monkeypox in South Africa. Next thing there’ll be restrictions and lockdown then followed by an influx of vaccines. They’re really gonna make us conspiracy theorists even when we don’t want to be”
@KLL_Boshmane: “Hmmm… Something is not right with the timing of monkeypox. Very suspicious”
@Mattmaphosa: “So we are in for another pandemic?”
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