Mpox virus claims first lives in that country

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) announced that a total of 6 mpox cases have been detected in the country's largest provinces, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

The statement indicated that 2 people have lost their lives due to the disease, which has been encountered for the first time in the country.

The statement noted that the first patient died on June 10 at Thembisa Hospital in Gauteng, and a 38-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with the mpox virus in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday passed away today.

The statement pointed out that all cases consist of men between the ages of 30-39 who have no travel history to countries where the outbreak is occurring, and used the expression, "This situation indicates that this infectious disease is spreading locally in the country."

MPOX VIRUS

Known as one of the rare diseases caused by an endemic virus, mpox is divided into two types: Congo and West African.

The virus, which is usually transmitted from animal to human and rarely from human to human through close contact, can cause high fever and itchy blisters on the body.

The World Health Organization changed the name of the disease to "mpox" on November 28, 2023, on the grounds that the previous name was "racist and derogatory."

News Source: AA