Monkeypox

(FILES) This file handout photo taken in the year 2004 and received on May 23, 2022 from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the German federal government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention, shows an ultrathin section electron-microscopic capture of the monkeypox virus. – The Word Health Organization called on July 1, 2022 for ‘urgent’ action to prevent the spread of monkeypox in Europe, noting that cases had tripled there over the past two weeks. (Photo by Freya KAULBARS / RKI Robert Koch Institute / AFP)

As global monkeypox crisis worsens, no new lab-confirmed cases identified in SA

Globally, 23 351 lab-confirmed cases of monkeypox have been detected in 83 countries and eight people have died of the disease.

Monkeypox

(FILES) This file handout photo taken in the year 2004 and received on May 23, 2022 from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the German federal government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention, shows an ultrathin section electron-microscopic capture of the monkeypox virus. – The Word Health Organization called on July 1, 2022 for ‘urgent’ action to prevent the spread of monkeypox in Europe, noting that cases had tripled there over the past two weeks. (Photo by Freya KAULBARS / RKI Robert Koch Institute / AFP)

Three cases of monkeypox have been detected in South Africa since June 2022. The last case was reported on 10 July and since then no further cases have been reported. The laboratory-confirmed cases in the country are not epidemiologically-linked.

NO NEW MONKEYPOX CASES

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said there have been no secondary cases or deaths linked to the three unlinked laboratory-confirmed monkeypox cases in South Africa, in a situational report on Wednesday, 3 August.

“No new laboratory-confirmed case has been reported since the last case reported on 10 July 2022 in Limpopo province,” said the NICD.

From 25 May to 2 August, the Institute conducted 276 monkeypox laboratory PCR tests from 276 (170 within SA and 106 from other African countries) individuals who were suspected of carrying the monkeypox disease.

“Full genetic sequencing for the cases from Gauteng and Western Cape was conducted. The viral genomes clustered in the B.1 lineage of the Western Africa clade with other viral genomes associated with cases of the current multi-country outbreak. The genetic sequencing for the third case is being conducted,” said the NICD.

EIGHT DEATHS ACROSS THE WORLD

As of 2 August, 23 351 lab-confirmed monkeypox cases have been detected in 83 countries (or territories) across the world and eight people have died.

All six WHO Regions, including Europe, the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean Region, Western Pacific Region, South-East Asia Region and the African Region, are affected.

The eight monkeypox-associated deaths occurred in Nigeria (3), the Central African Republic (two), Spain (2) and Brazil (1).

The majority of the confirmed cases have been found in Europe (59.7%) with 12 186 cases and two deaths followed by the Americas (38.5%) with 6785 cases and one death.

“In the ongoing 2022 multi-country monkeypox outbreak, males aged between 18 – 44 years and males who self-identify as men who have sex with men (MSM) and have reported recent sexual activities with one or multiple partners continues to be disproportionately affected,” said the NICD.

However, anyone can be infected with the disease regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

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