South Africa Mpox Cases Climb to 26 as Clade Ib Spreads: What Nurses Should Know

South Africa has confirmed 26 mpox cases so far in 2026, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), with 20 detected since August. Most are sub-clade Ib, the variant linked to the large outbreaks in Central and East Africa. Seven people have been hospitalised and no deaths have been reported this year, Daily Maverick reported on 3 November.

Key facts (data to 27 October 2026)

• Cases by province: Western Cape 18, Gauteng 3, Eastern Cape 2, Free State 2, KwaZulu-Natal 1
• Who: all but one were men aged 23 to 50; one was a woman aged 35 to 44
• Clades: 19 sub-clade Ib, 4 sub-clade IIb, 3 without sub-clade data
• Spread: local transmission is implied; some cases had recent travel to Spain or Belgium, and two travellers arrived already infected
• Vaccines: 3,865 MVA-BN doses remain from an Africa CDC donation, expiring 31 August 2027; the health department is reviewing procurement of more
• Treatment: tecovirimat is available and recommended only for hospitalised patients with severe disease

Signs of mpox

• Rash or lesions that may start in the genital or anal area, mouth, face, hands or elsewhere; lesions progress from flat spots to blisters, pustules and scabs
• Fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, tiredness
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Painful sores in the mouth or rectum

What nurses should do

1. Screen at triage: ask about new rash, fever, sexual contacts and travel.
2. Isolate suspected cases in a single room and use contact and droplet precautions with gloves, gown, eye protection and a respirator for aerosol-generating procedures, as per local guidance.
3. Collect lesion swabs correctly and notify public health.
4. Offer HIV testing and STI screening; severe mpox is more common in people with advanced, untreated HIV.
5. Counsel without stigma. Mpox can affect anyone; fear of judgment stops people coming forward.
6. Advise contacts to watch for symptoms for 21 days and ask about vaccine eligibility.

Frequently asked questions

Is mpox still a global health emergency?

No. WHO ended the public health emergency of international concern, but outbreaks continue and countries are still responding.

How does mpox spread?

Mainly through close contact with lesions, body fluids and contaminated materials, including sexual contact. It can also spread through respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact.

Related reading: Mpox nursing care and isolation · Transmission-based precautions · HIV and ART nursing care

Source: Daily Maverick, citing NICD data.