23 May 2022 | 11:37 PM UTC
Australia: Officials report confirmed monkeypox cases in Melbourne and Sydney as of late May; low risk of transmission
Confirmed monkeypox cases in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, in late May; the risk of transmission is low. Use basic health precautions.
Event
Australian health officials have identified two confirmed cases of monkeypox - one each in Melbourne and Sydney - among travelers who had recently transited through Europe and the UK as of late May. There is no indication of continued monkeypox transmission within Australia as of May 24. Officials may identify additional suspected cases in the coming weeks as disease surveillance and contact tracing continue.
Context
In contrast to past sporadic cases linked to travel to endemic countries, health officials have not confirmed the source of infection for the current outbreak, which is primarily centered in Europe. However, suspected human-to-human transmission occurs among people in close physical contact, with clusters of cases reported among men having sex with men (MSM). The current outbreak highlights the importance of vigilant safe sexual practices and suggests monkeypox can be sexually transmitted while the infected person displays few or no symptoms; however, risk is currently assessed as low for individuals not routinely engaging with multiple or anonymous sexual partners.
Monkeypox does not naturally occur in Australia; most cases are reported in West and Central Africa, primarily in the DRC, Nigeria, and Cameroon among individuals who report contact with wild primates or other mammals which may harbor the disease.
Monkeypox is caused by a virus that belongs to the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. However, monkeypox is not the same as smallpox, and it does not have the same capacity for rapid human-to-human transmission. Monkeypox is mainly transmitted to humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected rodents or primates. Human-to-human transmission primarily occurs through close personal contact with an infected individual via respiratory droplets, direct contact with bodily fluids, or indirect contact with lesion material (e.g., contaminated clothing or bedding). Symptoms typically appear 6-16 days after exposure but can develop up to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms generally include fever, headache, muscle aches and backaches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a distinctive rash characterized by lesions that progress through several stages before falling off.
Advice
Practice basic health precautions, including frequent handwashing with soap and water, covering the nose and mouth when coughing, and avoiding obviously ill individuals. Avoid overcrowded areas, such as nightclubs, and consider using safe sexual practices, such as physical barriers (condoms), in countries reporting monkeypox transmission. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop within two weeks of being in affected areas.
