South Africa's first monkeypox case confirmed in Johannesburg

Health Minister Joe Phaahla on Thursday announced that the country’s laboratory services have confirmed the first monkeypox case in South Africa.

The patient was a 30-year-old male from Johannesburg who had no travel history, “meaning that this cannot be attributed to having been acquired outside South Africa,” Phaahla told a news conference.

A process of contact tracing was under way, he added.

Monkeypox is a viral disease that causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions. It is endemic in parts of Africa, but not South Africa.

The World Health Organization will decide on Thursday whether to declare monkeypox a global health emergency. That has stirred criticism from some leading African scientists who say it has been a crisis for some African countries for years.

You May Also Like

Watch: Robbers bulldoze gate to escape with stolen Toyota Fortuner

CCTV footage has emerged on social media of a Toyota GD6 crashing…

Breaking: Jolidee Matongo, the Johannesburg mayor dies in Car Crash

Johannesburg Mayor Jolidee Matongo has passed away in a car crash on…

Queen Elizabeth II’s humble beginnings as a truck driver and diesel mechanic

Queen Elizabeth II, a Truck Driver, Diesel Mechanic and longest-reigning monarch died…