A Bayview store has confirmed that the monkeypox rumour circulating on social media is false.

This comes after a voicenote shared on community WhatsApp groups over the weekend claimed that staff at the OK store in Spine Road had contacted the infectious disease but the store was not closed.

The note alleged that “all the cashiers were sent home” with confirmed cases of monkeypox which is also known as mpox.

National outbreak

Panic quickly spread after dozens of cases of the disease were confirmed in the province in recent weeks.

The national Department of Health has issued an alert to citizens to be vigilant after a sharp increase in laboratory-confirmed mpox cases over the past few weeks, with the Western Cape recording the highest number of cases.

Measles mistaken

The panic was unwarranted, though, as OK Bayview store owner Ettiene Nel confirmed that while several staff members had been booked off sick, doctors’ notes confirmed that they had measles and not monkeypox.

He said that the store immediately sends all ill employees to the doctor to confirm whether they are fit to work and that no monkeypox cases had been reported at the store.

“There is no one at work that is contagious,” he said.

Health department confirms

Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness (WCDHW) spokesperson Dwayne Evans said there have been no confirmed cases of mpox in Strandfontein.

“We appeal to the public to not spread unverified information and encourage them to follow our official social media channels and reputable media sources,” he said.

What is monkeypox?

According to the national alert, mpox is a viral disease. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue and rash or skin lesions.

“Typically, the skin lesions start as flat red spots before progressing to bumps, followed by fluid-filled blisters, then pus filled bumps and eruptions into crusted scabs. The symptoms usually appear within 6 to 13 days after exposure but can range from 5 to 21 days. Therefore, anyone experiencing these symptoms, particularly if they have had close contact with a confirmed case or a suspected case, should seek medical attention immediately and avoid close contact with others,” the health department said in the alert.

“Mpox is transmitted mainly through close physical contact with an infected person, including skin-to-skin contact with the rash or lesions, and contact with contaminated materials such as bedding, clothing, or towels used by an infected person.

“Mpox-positive persons can also transmit the virus through respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact, uncovered coughing or sneezing,” it said.

The alert urged vigilance and advised frequent hand washing as a preventative measure.

“The government, through the support of the World Health Organization, has secured limited doses of mpox vaccines (MVA-BN) and treatment (Tecovirimat) as part of its outbreak response strategy to disrupt local transmission,” the alert said.

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