South Africa’s health ministry has announced a second death from mpox (previously known as monkeypox) this week, just a day after reporting the first fatality.
Mpox is a viral illness spread through close contact with infected people or animals, as well as contaminated materials.
The World Health Organization declared a global health emergency for mpox in July 2022, which lasted for 10 months.
The deceased individual, a 38-year-old man from KwaZulu-Natal province, was hospitalized with extensive lesions, fatigue, and other symptoms.
He tested positive for mpox on Wednesday and sadly passed away the same day.
“This is a concerning development,” said Foster Mohale, spokesperson for the national health department. “We urge people to be aware of the symptoms and to seek medical attention if they experience them.”
Including the two fatalities, South Africa has confirmed six laboratory-detected cases of mpox in the past five weeks.
