WeeklySA_AdminPain: Common symptons include a painful rash that can affect the groin and anal regions
By Monk Nkomo
The Department of Health has warned South Africans to be wary of the spread of Mpox, an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus and which can cause a painful rash and can also affect genital and anal regions.
Two more cases of this disease were reported this week bringing to four the number of confirmed cases with three in KwaZulu -Natal and one in Gauteng provinces.
The Department of Health appealed to members of the public who had been in close contact with known or suspected patient(s) of Mpox disease to cooperate with health officials and present themselves at the nearest health facility or healthcare provider without delays for clinical evaluation to ensure early diagnosis and effective treatment if they test positive.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Mpox is a zoonotic disease found regularly in parts of Central and West Africa. The virus that causes Mpox, which is part of the same family as the virus that causes smallpox, had been found in small rodents, monkeys and other mammals that live in these areas. The first human case of Mpox was recorded in 1970 in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. The disease then spread around the world in 2022.
There are two types of the monkeypox virus : Clade 1 and Clade 11. Clade 1 causes more severe illness and deaths. Some outbreaks have killed up to 10 percent of the people who fell sick, although more recent outbreaks recorded lower death rates. Clade 1 is endemic in Central Africa. Clade 11 is the type that caused the global outbreak that began in 2022. Infections from Clade 11 Mpox, which is endemic in West West Africa, are less severe, according to WHO.
The Mpox virus is transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, sexual contact, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding. The incubation period of Mpox is usually from 6 to 13 days but can range from 5 to 21 days. The health officials relied on transparency and cooperation from patients for contact tracing and case findings in order to determine the rate of transmission of this infectious virus at community level.
Some of the common symptoms of Mpox included a rash which may last for 2-4 weeks, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen glands. The painful rash looks like blisters or sores and can affect the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, groin, genital and or anal regions.
Anybody can get Mpox. It also spreads from contact with infected persons through touch, kissing or sex, materials such as contaminated sheets, clothes or needles. Pregnant mothers may also spread the virus on to their unborn babies.
According to the WHO, the monkeypox virus was discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research. Scientists suspect that African rodents and non-human primates (like monkeys) might harbor the virus and infect people.
The Department of health applauded patients whose honesty and courage during the investigation process, assisted officials to trace suspected cases who also tested positive. ‘’Thus, it is through transparency of both confirmed and suspected cases that the government can prevent further transmission and avoidable deaths’’.
In collaboration with various stakeholders in the sector, the department has intensified epidemiology and surveillance, Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) activities. These would also help to address social stigma which contributed to people`s decision not to openly speak out because they suspected communities would not accept them due to their health conditions. In most cases, stigma contributed to the spread of the virus thereby making the outbreak and transmission worse.
The Department of health said there was no need for the public to panic because the situation remained under control, and they would keep the public informed of the situation.
