26 May 2022

KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has allayed fears on monkeypox and assured the public that the Province is on high alert, and doing everything possible to screen people and cargo coming in from countries where the disease has been confirmed.

The MEC says the Province's communicable disease surveillance and control systems have been activated, and that the Province is ready for any eventuality.

MEC Simelane was speaking on the sidelines of the Department's Post-Budget Stakeholder Engagement programme, which was held at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, earlier today.

She said the Province's healthcare facilities have enough isolation and quarantine beds that can accommodate patients in the event that monkeypox hits the province.

She further reiterated the national communique issued by the National Health Director-General Dr Sandile Buthelezi this week, which stated that there have been no laboratory-confirmed cases of monkeypox in the country and on the continent.

Issued by KZN HEALTH