The national total of laboratory-confirmed M-pox cases in South Africa has increased from 18 to 22 in five days. The South Africa Department of Health confirmed four additional laboratory-confirmed cases, bringing the total to 22 as of September 22, 2026. The previous total of 18 confirmed cases was reported on September 17, 2026.
The highest number of the M-Pox infection were reported in Western Cape, which saw 18 cases. 3 cases were reported in Gauteng and 1 case in KwaZulu-Natal. Moreover, among the reported cases 21 were male and 1 female, all the infected individuals fall in the range 23-50 years.
One case out of the four laboratory-confirmed cases involves a 47-year old man from Cape Town who recently travelled to Spain and before the laboratory confirmation his case was classified as a probable case. The confirmation was released by the Spanish health authorities.
Out of the new four reported cases, two cases were imported, involving a German and a Norwegian citizen.
An infected person will experience several symptoms including fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue and back pain. While suffering from the infection, individuals also present with rash or skin lesions, which can appear on the hands, face, feet and other parts of the body.
The M-pox virus is mainly transmitted through physical contact with an infected individual and can spread through contact with contaminated materials such as bedding, clothing and towels. As most of the cases were reported from the Western Cape, the Department of Health is providing the support to Western Cape Provincial Department in collaboration with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases NICD, the World Health Organisation WHO and other partners.
The organization is helping Western Cape Provincial Department in implementing response measures, contact tracing and enhanced surveillance. Notably, the department is also urging the public to take precaution and seek medical attention if they experience any of the following symptoms.