Monkeypox Death: A second person has died in South Africa this week from the viral infection mpox, also known as Monkeypox, the health ministry said on Thursday. The news comes within less than 24 hours after it announced the first death.
The second person who died was a 38-year-old man. According to the reports, he was admitted to a hospital in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province with extensive lesions, headache, fatigue, oral ulcers, muscle pain and a sore throat. He tested positive for mpox on Wednesday.
Speaking to the media, the national health department Foster Mohale said, “The patient has unfortunately demised in KZN the same day his test results came back positive.”
The total number of laboratory-confirmed mpox cases stands at six, with two deaths since the first case was recorded five weeks ago.
What Is Monkeypox?
Monkeypox, an infrequent viral disease, shares the same roots with smallpox. Though the virus was initially unveiled in monkeys back in 1958, it’s got its grip on humans too, causing some isolated cases and outbreaks in the Central and West African regions. In most cases, animals are the courier of this virus to humans, leaving person-to-person spread a relatively uncommon event. Despite the connection to smallpox, fortunately, monkeypox is comparatively gentle in its symptom manifestation among those infected.
Symptoms And Transmission of mpox Virus
Monkeypox generally greets with an initial onset of fever, pounding headache, muscle discomfort, and a blanket of tiredness. As these symptoms unfold, a rash makes its appearance, first on your face before it extends to other body areas. This illness can latch onto humans through direct touch with disease-bearing animals like rodents or primates, or consuming their uncooked or undercooked meat. While the chances are slim, yet possible, you may get monkeypox if you’ve been in close contact for a good amount of time with an infected person.