Monkeypox virus: South Africa records the first case of monkeypox.

South Africa on Thursday reported its first case of monkeypox. 

"The patient is a 30-year-old male from Johannesburg who has no travel history, meaning that this cannot be attributed to having been acquired outside South Africa," Health Minister Joe Phaahla told a news conference.

"Working with the relevant health authorities, a process of contact tracing has begun." 

The World Health Organization said last week that Europe remained the epicentre of the global monkeypox outbreak.