South Africa’s confirmed mpox cases have risen to 22, the Department of Health has confirmed, four more than the 18 cases reported on September 17, 2026.
The Western Cape remains the hardest-hit province, accounting for 18 confirmed infections. Gauteng has recorded three cases, while KwaZulu-Natal has one.
The new cases include a 47-year-old Cape Town man who travelled to Spain earlier this month.
Health authorities had classified him as a probable case while awaiting laboratory results from Spanish counterparts.
That result has now come back positive, moving him into the confirmed count.
Two imported infections, involving a German and a Norwegian national, have also been added to the tally. All but one of the 22 confirmed patients are male.
Mpox symptoms and warning signs
Department spokesperson Foster Mohale has urged the public to stay alert to mpox symptoms as clusters emerge across provinces.
“The public is reminded that mpox symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, and a rash or skin lesions that can appear on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or other areas of the body,” Mohale said.
He urged anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed case within the past 21 days and develops symptoms to seek medical attention promptly.
People should also inform healthcare providers about their exposure history.
Mpox transmission spreads beyond Western Cape
Mohale has flagged the wider spread as a concern despite the Western Cape’s dominant share of cases.
“While most cases remain concentrated in the Western Cape, the identification of transmission clusters and cases across multiple provinces highlights the need for sustained public cooperation, early detection, and continued surveillance to prevent further spread,” he said.
The department is working with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the World Health Organization and other partners to support the Western Cape’s response, including contact tracing and enhanced surveillance.
The NICD’s latest mpox updates provide further information on the outbreak, including the spread of Clade Ib. NICD Mpox Updates
Government has also secured limited doses of the MVA-BN vaccine and Tecovirimat treatment through WHO support.
Officials have not yet detailed where these doses will be deployed.
How mpox spreads
Mpox spreads mainly through skin-to-skin contact with an infected person’s rash or lesions. It can also spread through contaminated bedding, clothing or towels.
The virus can also pass through respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact.
Symptoms typically appear within six to 13 days of exposure, although the incubation period can range from five to 21 days.
Health officials have again appealed for compassion toward affected individuals, warning that stigma could deter people from seeking care.
“The Department of Health will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as new information becomes available,” Mohale said.
The outbreak follows a string of recent health scares in South Africa.
These include a Gauteng malaria outbreak that killed 11 people between January and March, and a hantavirus scare that left three dead and a cruise ship stranded off Cape Verde.
