The Department of Health has confirmed a case of monkey pox has been detected from a man who was tested at the Ahmed Kathrada Hospital in Johannesburg. monkey pox, or Mpox, is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus and can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with someone who is infectious, contaminated materials or infected animals. The last reported cases of monkey pox in South Africa were recorded in August 2022.

In a statement, the Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla warned the public to be cautious and confirmed that a 35-year-old man tested positive for monkey pox on May 9. "The case was first tested by Lancet Laboratory, which was later confirmed by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), which immediately notified the department." Phaahla explained that the virus is not highly transmissible from person-to-person but it has increased in global public health significance and can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever. Most people fully recover but some get very sick.

The department reported that the man contracted the virus without leaving the country for any travel. "According to the preliminary investigation and case findings reports, the patient has no recent travel history to countries experiencing an outbreak of the disease. Contact tracing is continuing and identifying any additional linked cases of monkey pox," the department added. "The department said a new variant of the MPXV, named "clade 1b," emerged during epidemiological week 16 of 2024 (April 14-20, 2024) in Kamituga, a mining enclave within the DRC. This variant exhibits heightened transmissibility, mainly through sexual contact, raising concerns about its potential to cause a pandemic," the department said.