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The IFP in the KZN Legislature calls upon the KZN MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu, to tell the public what measures are in place to prevent monkeypox virus, should it be imported and spread across the Province.

Although there are currently no monkeypox cases in South Africa, the MEC cannot sit in her laurels and remain silent while monkeypox is being reported in other countries. We want to know what the KZN Department of Health is doing in preparation for the possible spread of monkeypox in the Province. We don’t want to be caught off-guard. It is better to prepare now than to wait for disaster to strike.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Monkeypox, also known as MPX/MPXV, is a rare “viral zoonotic disease that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa and is occasionally exported to other regions”.

The virus is mostly transmitted to humans via infected animals, such as primates or rodents, however human-to-human transmission does occur.

The WHO says that human-to-human transmission of monkeypox can occur through close contact with lesions on the skin, body fluids including respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials such as bedding. Transmission via respiratory droplets usually requires prolonged face-to-face contact. Transmission can occur between sexual partners, through intimate contact during sex, with infectious skin lesions being the likely mode of transmission.

Further, the IFP calls for more awareness around monkeypox. People must be educated about the symptoms of the monkeypox virus, as well as what medication and treatments are available if they get infected.

Issued by IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson for Health, Ncamisile Nkwanyana, MPL