Mpox: Take precaution, don't panic – Dr Coetzee
Former South African Medical Association chairperson, and family healthcare practitioner Dr Angelique Cotzee says there is no need to panic as cases of Mpox rise.
The number of positive cases has risen to 13, with two deaths reported in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
Coetzee has encouraged people with comorbidities to take their treatment regularly.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health has secured the first batch of anti-viral treatment for Mpox disease which will be given to only people already infected by the virus.
On Friday, the department said it had received a batch of Mpox-specific treatment, Tecovirimat (also known as TPOXX or ST-246) for the treatment of patients who experience severe health complications because of the Mpox disease.
"The department urges all people regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, with suspected Mpox symptoms or who had physical contact with known cases to present themselves at the healthcare facility for clinical evaluation because anyone can contract this preventable and treatable disease.
"Hand hygiene is one of the effective ways to protect people from getting sick and prevent transmission of the diseases, hence people are reminded to always wash hands with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your face and after you use the bathroom," said the department’s spokesperson Foster Mohale.
Common symptoms include a rash that may last for 2-4 weeks, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen glands (lymph nodes).
Mohale urged anyone with these symptoms, including a rash that looks like blisters or sores that may appear on the face, groin, palms of their hands, or soles of their feet, to seek immediate medical attention.
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