Western Cape Mpox Outbreak: 18 of SA's 22 Confirmed Cases Linked To Province
- The Department of Health confirmed 4 new Mpox cases in South Africa, bringing the national total to 22
- International travel is driving the latest infections, with cases linked to Spain, Germany, and Norway
- Response teams from the NICD and WHO have been deployed to the Western Cape to assist with contact tracing
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: Getty Images
WESTERN CAPE — International travelers entering South Africa have emerged as key contributors to the recent rise in local viral infections, according to public health updates. The Department of Health announced that recent laboratory confirmations have elevated the country's cumulative total of Mpox cases to 22 from 18, with a majority of the infections confirmed in the Western Cape.
According to TimesLIVE, the Department of Health indicated that foreign travel played a direct role in the latest recorded infections. Among the new cases is a 47-year-old Cape Town resident who recently visited Spain. He was reclassified as a confirmed patient after officials obtained lab verification from Spanish authorities. Additionally, health officials reported two other imported cases of two individuals from Germany and Norway.
Travel-linked infections push national tally higher
Demographic data indicates that 21 of the 22 confirmed individuals are male, with ages ranging between 23 and 50. The Western Cape remains the primary area of infection with 18 cases, while Gauteng accounts for three and KwaZulu-Natal has one. Joint response teams from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are aiding local provincial health teams with contact tracing and surveillance. Public health officials stressed that early detection remains vital to halting wider community spread.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Source: Getty Images
SA records over 3,000 measles cases
In a related article, Briefly News reported on South Africa’s measles outbreak and the sharp decline in childhood vaccination coverage. More than 3,400 laboratory-confirmed cases have been recorded since January 2026, with several provinces reporting active outbreaks.
The proportion of infants receiving no vaccinations has more than tripled since 2017, leaving the country well below the World Health Organization’s coverage target. Health officials have launched a national catch-up campaign as polio, diphtheria, rubella and whooping cough also resurface.
Source: Briefly News
