A Mpox case in Pietermaritzburg has been confirmed in a 40-year-old man from the uMgungundlovu District, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health said. The patient first sought help at Eastboom Clinic on 16 October 2025 with fever, rash, headache and muscle pain. He was then transferred to Northdale Hospital for isolation and care. A specimen taken on 21 October tested positive for clade 1b Mpox on 24 October, according to the department.
Officials say the patient remains under close medical supervision at Northdale Hospital. Health authorities have detected no secondary cases and describe the public risk as very low. Four close contacts have been identified and monitored under national protocols.
Residents and the Latest Numbers
The Mpox case in Pietermaritzburg is the second laboratory-confirmed case reported in KwaZulu-Natal since January 2025. Nationally, health authorities have recorded 12 Mpox cases in 2025. Eight cases are in Gauteng and two are in KwaZulu-Natal. The department emphasized that Mpox spreads mainly through close physical contact. Infection prevention and control measures are in place in provincial facilities.
“The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health … remains committed to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of all residents and will continue to provide updates as necessary,” the department said. They urged the public to report symptoms such as fever, rash, headaches, swollen lymph nodes or body aches.
Right of Reply
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health said surveillance, rapid response and contact tracing are under way in uMgungundlovu. It continues to work with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. No additional responses from other agencies were published at the time of writing.
