As monkeypox cases in South Africa increase, the Health Department has warned travellers to exercise extra caution when visiting other countries.
Health minister Dr Joe Phaahla confirmed a fifth monkeypox case in the country on Friday morning.
He said the latest patient was a 28-year-old man from Johannesburg who had returned from Europe.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there had been over 35 000 monkeypox cases reported worldwide by Friday, with 12 deaths.
Dr Phaahla said the department was investigating a possible link between the fourth and fifth cases in South Africa.
"[Patients] number four and five might have a link because both [of them] had travelled to Europe and it looks like to Spain, amongst other countries," he said.
"We know that Spain has already recorded more than 5 000 positive cases and two deaths."
The WHO had on Friday not issued any travel restrictions, Dr Phaahla said, "but it is important that people who are travelling should exercise maximum caution".
Last month, monkeypox was declared a global emergency with 92 countries now affected.
Earlier this week the WHO also confirmed the first human-to-animal transmission after a same-sex couple who lived together passed the virus on to their dog.
