South Africa confirms first monkeypox case, not linked to travel
Africa
By
Reuters
| Jun 23, 2022
South Africa's Health Minister Joe Phaahla said on Thursday that he had been notified by the country's laboratory services that they had 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 underway, 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.
READ MORE
Rwanda says DR Congo claims against Apple are 'baseless'
Internet shutdowns major hindrance to digital rights inclusion in Africa, report
Kihika assents to Bill in renewed fight against alcoholism
Human rights groups sue State over planned sale of parastatals
Soldiers and militia turn on civilians in encircled DR Congo's Goma city
Mortar fire kills three Tanzanian soldiers in DR Congo
Why it is costly to be a Kenyan citizen today
Security in Eastern Congo deteriorating as rebel group expands territory
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.