Health and Wellness
With regard to mpox cases:
(1) (a) What is the breakdown per municipality, (b)(i) what measures has her Depart-ment implemented to contain the spread of mpox in the province and (ii) how effective have these measures been to date, (c) what (i) resources, (ii) medical personnel and (iii) facilities are being allocated specifically for the management and treatment of mpox cases in the province and (d)(i) how is the Province coordinating its reaction with the national government to address the mpox outbreak and (ii) what steps are being taken to ensure alignment with global health guidelines;
- whether there any specific strategies or interventions being developed to protect high-risk population groups in the province; if so, what are the relevant details?
(1)(a) a) One laboratory confirmed mpox case was detected/diagnosed at a private hospital in the Cape Town Metropolitan District, the case however resides in the Gauteng Province.
(b)(i) Preparedness and Response Activities includes the establishment of national and provincial incident management Teams, ii) Mpox sub-national readiness assessments and development of preparedness and response plans at a provincial and district level; iii) PACK guidelines have been updated to include mpox diagnosis and management, issuing of a provincial circular H102/2024: Guidance on Preparedness and Response in the Western Cape.
The control measures include the following:
- Enhanced public awareness with appropriate risk communication without stigma
- Enhanced healthcare worker awareness and training (extensive training material)
- Enhanced surveillance with notification of cases and laboratory testing
- Regular reporting on provincial cases investigation and contact tracing (situational reports)
- Appropriate case management (including mental health support) and infection prevention and control
- Ensure access to the mpox treatment for severe cases.
- Contact Tracing with close monitoring with those meeting the definition of a contact for mpox.
(c)(i) Operational Support and logistics includes ensuring transport or referral of suspected cases via ambulance, transportation of samples to laboratories, procurement of essential items, medical counter measures e.g. therapeutics and vaccination. Case Management guidelines have been updated and shared widely across various platforms for healthcare workers. Risk communication and community engagement – Information, Education, and Communication material has been shared based of the phase of the national outbreak, i.e. we focus on prevention and awareness. There are tecovirimat (treatment for severe mpox) available in the country and access to mpox vaccine is underway at national level.
(ii) All clinicians are on high alert for detection of mpox cases. The NICD hotline and Infectious Disease Specialist at Groote Schuur and Tygerberg Hospitals are contacted for a risk assessment and guidance on laboratory investigation to be conducted, and management of suspected/confirmed mpox cases.
(iii) All hospitals are equipped to diagnose, manage and treat mpox cases in the province.
(d)(i) A mpox Incident Management Team (IMT) was convened by the National Department of Health that includes various pillars of response. The IMT meetings are held on a weekly basis with updates on the 13 Key Priority Pillars, as indicated in the National mpox Preparedness and Response plans. Provinces provide feedback on their provincial preparedness and response activities. If a suspected/confirmed mpox case is detected in the province, national is alerted immediately followed by immediate public health actions. The 13 Pillars are as follows:
- Leadership, coordination, financing and monitoring; Maintaining Essential Health services and systems, Operational Support and logistical, Research and innovation; Surveillance, epidemiological investigation and contact tracing; Laboratory; Case management; Mental health and psychosocial support; Infection prevention and control; Environmental health and safe burials, vaccinations, risk communication and community engagement, points of entry.
(ii) There is close collaboration and the National IMT with the World Health Organization (South Africa) and WHO-Afro in terms of guidance and alignment to the continental plans and guidelines. Provincial plans are aligned in line with the National Preparedness and Response Plans. South Africa is signatory to the International Health Regulations.
(2) There has been ongoing efforts from the National Department of Health working with provincial departments to integrate mpox into routine sexually transmitted infections screening and other routine programmes for the public and key population; as well as mapping and collaborating with partners/NGOs.
