The Department of Health has confirmed that the grade one learner from Hammanskraal who was suspected of having monkeypox has tested negative for the viral disease. After the suspected case, the department collected samples for laboratory testing at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases. 

SUSPECTED MPOX CASE

Last week Tuesday, the Gauteng Department of Education announced that a learner from Hammanskraal tested positive for Mpox. This was after her parents reported to the school that she had been taken to hospital after displaying symptoms. However, the department later retracted the statement and said that the results concerning the suspected case must first be verified by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the Department of Health (DoH). "We acknowledge that the announcement of any confirmed cases should be made by the NICD and the DoH following thorough testing and verification," spokesperson Steve Mabona said. He said their initial statement was based on official correspondence received from the school.

THE PUBLIC URGED NOT TO SELF DIAGNOSE

The department spokesperson Foster Mohale has urged to report to a healthcare facility when they experience any suspicious symptoms related to mpox, instead of self-diagnosing and isolating without laboratory confirmation. "Working together as communities and health authorities, we can prevent unnecessary panic and avoidable stigma," Mohale said, adding that the country has not recorded any new cases of mpox for the past week. "The situation is under control. However, this does not mean that we are off the hook or should lower our guard, and we cannot guarantee at the current moment that this infectious disease has been eradicated and because it may re-emerge once severe cases present for healthcare," Mohale added.