South Africa has confirmed four more mpox cases, the Department of Health said. This brings the number of cases recorded since 1 January 2026 to 26.
Most of the infections are in the Western Cape. The province has recorded 18 cases, and the department said 16 of them were linked to local transmission.
“The department urges members of the public to remain vigilant and to seek healthcare promptly if they develop symptoms such as a rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes or fatigue,” department spokesperson Foster Mohale said, according to IOL.
Mohale said the new cases raised the total of laboratory-confirmed infections from 22 to 26.
After the Western Cape, Gauteng has recorded three cases. The Eastern Cape and the Free State have two cases each, while KwaZulu-Natal has one.
Two of the Western Cape cases were foreign nationals visiting South Africa. The department classified these two as imported infections.
According to the department, 25 of the 26 people diagnosed were male. Their ages ranged from 23 to 50, and the median age was 37.
Clade and lineage details were available for 17 of the cases, the department said. Of these, 13 were linked to Clade Ib and four to Clade IIb.
Mpox is a viral infection. It can spread through close contact with a person who has the virus.
The department said anyone who had been in close contact with a confirmed or suspected case should tell healthcare workers. Those people should also watch for symptoms for 21 days.
“Individuals who have been in close contact with a confirmed or suspected mpox case should inform healthcare workers and monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days,” Mohale said.
People who develop symptoms should stay away from close contact with others and see a doctor or clinic, the department said.
The public was also warned against close, skin-to-skin contact with anyone who has a rash that may be linked to mpox. The department said people should not share bedding, towels or clothing with those who are infected.
The department said mpox can be prevented and treated. It called on healthcare workers to stay alert for possible infections.
Health workers were also asked to follow infection prevention and control rules when they handle suspected cases.
The department said it was working with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and provincial health departments. The aim is to find cases, trace contacts and make the public more aware of the virus.
“The department will continue to work closely with the NICD, provincial health authorities and other stakeholders to strengthen surveillance, case finding, contact tracing, risk communication and community engagement in order to contain further spread of mpox,” Mohale said.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL. Image: IOL. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice News desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Kgomotso Maake covers news and politics for Tzaneen Voice. Kgomotso reports on government, Parliament, municipalities, courts, crime and service delivery across South Africa, with a close eye on how national decisions reach towns like Tzaneen and the wider Limpopo province. Stories are written in plain English and focus on the facts: who made the decision, what it means, and what happens next.