South Africa’s health ministry announced a second death from mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, on Thursday. This comes just one day after the country reported its first fatality from the viral illness.
The deceased was a 38-year-old man admitted to a KwaZulu-Natal hospital with severe symptoms including lesions, fatigue, and muscle pain. He tested positive for mpox on Wednesday but tragically passed away the same day.
“This is a sad development,” said Foster Mohale, spokesperson for the national health department. “We offer our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased.”
This brings the total number of confirmed mpox cases in South Africa to six, with two fatalities since the first case emerged five weeks ago. Mpox primarily spreads through close physical contact and while most cases are mild, the virus can be deadly.
Health officials are urging South Africans to be aware of the symptoms and practice preventive measures, including avoiding close contact with infected individuals.
