NSW health authorities have detected the state’s first case of mpox in more than six months, prompting a warning for men who have sex with men to be on the lookout for symptoms.
It’s unclear where the infection was confirmed or how it was contracted but the information came from the South Eastern Sydney Public Health Unit.
The disease, formerly known as monkeypox, is caused by a virus that was endemic to a few African countries before a global outbreak in May 2022.
There have been more than 87,000 cases reported globally.
NSW authorities say all of the local infections have been among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, most of whom were exposed to the virus overseas.
Unit director Dr Vicky Sheppeard urged them to be on the lookout for symptoms.
“While our vaccination program against mpox, combined with people at risk monitoring for symptoms, has been very successful in controlling the spread in NSW, as long as cases continue in other countries there is a risk of new cases here,” she said.
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“In NSW there were 56 mpox cases between May and November 2022.
“We believe that rapid rollout of the vaccination program to people at high risk of mpox and the reduction in the number of cases in the northern hemisphere both contributed to the lack of new cases in NSW until now.”
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Mpox often starts with small pimple-like skin lesions, which spread, develop pus and crust over.
It can also cause fever, headache, fatigue or swollen lymph nodes and until the lesions crust over and are replaced by fresh skin.
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