A case of monkeypox has been discovered in Limpopo, confirmed by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).
“The confirmed case is that of a 42-year-old male tourist from Switzerland who is holidaying in the province. The case presented with signs and symptoms such as rash, lymphadenopathy, muscle ache, and fatigue,” provincial Health MEC Phopi Ramathuba said.
Ramathuba called for calm after the province received its first confirmed case of monkeypox. “We are calling for calm. We can confirm that the case is an outpatient, currently isolating and requires no admission. Three contacts have already been identified and none of them have developed signs thus far,” she said.
Ramathuba said the department had already sent officials to follow up on the reported case in Limpopo.
“The department wishes to encourage all people who interact with a lot of people in their line of work to continue wearing of masks even though the Covid-19 protocols have been relaxed.”
The disease has been recorded in at least 50 countries. According to the NICD it can take up to 21 days after exposure for symptoms to surface, usually in the form of a rash that appears few days after a fever.
The rash which appears similar to chicken pox will typically appear on the face, genitals, palms, soles of the feet and eyes. Monkeypox is not considered highly contagious. The disease disappears with no treatment needed. Treatment is for symptoms, commonly severe itching, until the blisters disappear.