South Africa has recorded four new laboratory-confirmed mpox cases, with the Western Cape accounting for 18 of the 26 cases reported since January 2026.
The Western Cape has recorded the most cases at 18, followed by Gauteng with three, the Eastern Cape and Free State with two each, and KwaZulu-Natal with one.
Two Western Cape cases involved foreign nationals visiting South Africa, while the remaining 16 were linked to local transmission.
According to the department, 25 of the 26 patients are male, aged between 23 and 50, with a median age of 37.
Clade information is available for 17 cases: 13 are linked to clade Ib and four to clade IIb, the department said.
It has urged the public to watch for symptoms, including a rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and fatigue, and to seek medical attention if they develop.
People who have been in close contact with a confirmed or suspected case should notify healthcare workers and monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days.
The department also advised the public to avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with anyone who has an mpox-like rash and not to share bedding, towels, clothing or other personal items with affected people.
The department said it was working with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and provincial health authorities to strengthen surveillance, trace contacts and limit further transmission.