By Ebi Kesiena
Health Minister Dr. Joe Phaahla has called for calm following the outbreak of M-Pox in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. The ministry is actively working to secure vaccines and monitor the situation.
Five patients have been diagnosed, with one fatality recorded in Gauteng. The disease primarily affects men who have sex with men. Two patients have been discharged, while two remain under medical care.
Dr. Phaahla confirmed local transmission, as none of the patients had traveled abroad. Dr. Jaquiline Weyer from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases emphasized that M-Pox spreads through close contact and is less contagious than COVID-19, suggesting it should be easier to contain.
The government is exploring vaccine options. WHO spokesperson Ndenzako Fabian outlined symptoms such as rash, headache, and body aches and noted efforts to secure treatment drugs, with ten doses ready for shipment from Geneva.
Dr. Phaahla urged anyone in contact with infected individuals or exhibiting symptoms to seek medical attention promptly, reassuring that the disease is treatable with recommended antiviral agents.
Meanwhile, the government is weighing its options on obtaining vaccines to curb the spread of the disease.
