The first case of rare disease has been identified in SA. There is currently a major outbreak of the disease, worldwide that has been marked by the World Health Organization. Monkeypox, however, is very different from Covid-19 and is not highly transmissible.
Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla confirmed on Thursday that the first case of monkeypox had been found in South Africa.
Phaahla said the infected person is a 30-year-old man from Gauteng with no travel history, indicating the disease is being transmitted to the community.
Phaahla said they were busy looking for those who were in contact with the man who tested positive for the disease on June 22.
Monkeypox is a different disease from Covid-19 for several reasons:
It is not transmitted through the respiratory droplets;
You need close contact with an infected person for transmission, such as kissing or sex, or close contact with a contaminated item such as bedding;
It is not particularly contagious;
However, in theory, it may be sexually transmitted, but this has not been proven. However, most newly diagnosed cases involve men who have sex with men with additional risk factors who are men who have multiple male sexual partners; i
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