Gauteng strengthens preparedness after three Mpox cases - IOL

People are urged to take note of the symptoms of Mpox.

The Gauteng Health Department says it has comprehensive measures in place to manage the outbreak of Mpox after three confirmed cases earlier this month.

Mpox is a viral disease that can affect anyone, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.

Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, and rash or skin lesions that may appear on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or other body parts. 

Typically, the lesions start as flat red spots before progressing to bumps, followed by fluid-filled blisters, then pus-filled bumps and eruptions into crusted scabs. 

The symptoms usually appear within six to 13 days after exposure, but can range from five to 21 days.

Gauteng Health spokesperson Steve Mabona said the department continues to monitor the situation and is strengthening preparedness measures across the province to ensure any suspected or confirmed cases are detected early, investigated and appropriately managed. 

Outbreak response teams are in place across all five health districts, supported by provincial leads from Communicable Disease Control, Immunisation, Environmental Health, Infection Prevention and Control, Health Promotion, Communication and other relevant programmes.

Mpox cases are monitored daily through the Notifiable Medical Conditions surveillance system to support the early identification, notification, investigation and follow-up of suspected and confirmed cases. Wastewater surveillance is also used as a complementary early-warning mechanism.

“The department has contingency plans covering surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control, risk communication, co-ordination, resource mobilisation and clearly defined roles and responsibilities. A provincial risk calendar is also used to identify periods or circumstances of increased transmission risk and to guide facility readiness, surveillance strengthening and proactive response measures,” Mabona said. 

The department also continuously monitors national and global Mpox trends, including changes in transmission patterns and emerging variants, which enables the department to strengthen its response structures and public health measures where necessary.

Gauteng currently has 586 doses of the Mpox vaccine in stock. 

“The vaccines are not routinely stored at clinics because they require special cold-chain equipment at approximately -40°C. The vaccines are therefore stored in dedicated freezers at regional pharmacies, from where clinics can request them based on identified need,” Mabona said. 

The national Health Department had also been engaged to ensure that additional vaccine doses can be accessed should the need arise.

The department continues to implement targeted Mpox awareness, prevention and risk-communication activities across the province. These include community education and awareness through clinics, public meetings, multimedia platforms, door-to-door campaigns and community outreach programmes. 

Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant, recognise signs and symptoms, and seek healthcare services early.

“The department is also working with community leaders, traditional health practitioners, faith-based organisations, civil society, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders to support the distribution of reliable information,” Mabona said. 

The department said it would continue to monitor the situation closely, strengthen preparedness where necessary and ensure that the province is able to detect cases early, contain transmission and scale up its response should this be required.