The National Health Department has confirmed an increase in Mpox cases, with 22 confirmed cases, up from 18 last week.
The department noted that the increase is as of 22 September 2026.
The department’s Foster Mohale noted that a previous probable case has been added to the tally, after laboratory results confirmed the case of a 47-year-old man from Cape Town who returned from Spain earlier this month.
“This individual was previously classified as a probable case pending laboratory results from Spanish health authorities. Following confirmation of a positive test, the case has been reclassified as laboratory-confirmed and included in the updated count,” said Mohale.
He added that the other three cases include “two imported infections involving a German and a Norwegian citizen”.
Meanwhile, the Western Cape still has the majority of the cases, now standing at 18, up from the initial 15 confirmed cases reported last week. The three cases in Gauteng and one in KwaZulu-Natal remain unchanged. All the patients are male except for one, Mohale said.
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Mohale further noted that the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and the World Health Organisation are among those working with the Western Cape Health and Wellness Department to address the situation and its response, particularly with “contact tracing and enhanced surveillance”.
At the same time, Mohale has reminded the public that early detection and cooperation are necessary to prevent further spread.
“While most cases remain concentrated in the Western Cape, the identification of transmission clusters and cases across multiple provinces highlights the need for sustained public cooperation, early detection, and continued surveillance to prevent further spread,” said Mohale.
Anyone who has been in contact with a confirmed case within the past 21 days and develops symptoms has been urged to immediately seek medical attention.
Symptoms include:
- fever,
- headache,
- muscle aches,
- back pain,
- fatigue,
- a rash/skin lesions on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or other areas of the body.
The department said it will continue to monitor the situation.
