The Department of Health has confirmed four additional mpox cases, raising the national total from 18 to 22 as of 22 September 2026.

One of the new cases involves a 47-year-old Cape Town man who travelled to Spain earlier this month. He was previously listed as a probable case pending test results from Spanish health authorities, but has now been reclassified as laboratory-confirmed.

The other three cases include two imported infections involving a German and a Norwegian citizen.

Of the 22 confirmed cases, 18 are in the Western Cape, three in Gauteng, and one in KwaZulu-Natal.

Health authorities are working with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, the World Health Organisation, and other partners to support the Western Cape’s response, including contact tracing and enhanced surveillance.

mpox symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, and a rash or skin lesions on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or other areas of the body. Anyone who develops symptoms after close contact with a confirmed case should seek medical attention promptly and inform their healthcare provider about the exposure.

While most cases remain concentrated in the Western Cape, the spread across multiple provinces highlights the need for early detection and continued surveillance to prevent further spread.

The Department says it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as new information becomes available.

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