South Africa has confirmed a third case of monkeypox in the country.

The latest case was identified in a 42-year-old male tourist from Switzerland who was in Limpopo province on holiday.

"The case presented with signs and symptoms such as rash, lymphadenopathy, muscle ache, and fatigue," provincial Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba said.

Ramatuba called for calm and noted that health authorities were on high alert.

"We can confirm that the case is an outpatient, currently isolating and requires no admission," she said.

The official said three contacts have been identified but none of them has developed any symptoms so far.

Earlier South Africa reported two monkeypox cases not linked to travel.

Monkeypox is a viral disease that causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions. It is endemic in parts of Africa, but not South Africa.

It occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas but is occasionally exported to other regions.

It is usually a self-limited disease with symptoms lasting from 2 to 4 weeks.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the case fatality ratio in recent times has been around 3–6 percent.