The number of Mpox cases in South Africa has risen to 13 with the latest cases confirmed in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Soweto and three in eThekwini in KwaZulu Natal.
Three provinces are now affected by the M-pox outbreak with two deaths recorded in Gauteng and Kwazulu Natal respectively.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health Foster Mohale says almost all cases are patients living with HIV.
He says three of the new cases are men in their twenties who all tested positive over the last week.
All patients are currently hospitalised.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health has received a batch of Mpox-specific treatment, Tecovirimat (also known as TPOXX ) for patients who experience severe health complications.
Mohale says the process to secure more treatment including a vaccine is underway in case the need arises.
He says all mild cases will continue to be managed with supportive treatment for complications like fever, pneumonia and skin infections.
The department urges all people regardless of gender, age, or 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.
