NSW Health is urging people to be aware of mpox symptoms after a surge in case numbers of the virus across the state.
Recent cases have mostly been impacting men who have had sexual contact with other men, NSW Health said.
Since June 1, there have been 93 notifications of mpox in NSW. Before then, only one case had been detected this year.
There’s been a global outbreak of mpox, with 15,000 cases detected in central Africa.
NSW Health Executive Director of Health Protection Dr Jeremy McAnulty said the strain found in Australia was different to the one found overseas.
“With the recent increase in cases, NSW Health is asking people who may be at risk of mpox to stay on the lookout for symptoms,” McAnulty said.
“Mpox spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact, and often starts with small pimple-like skin lesions, particularly in areas that are hard to see such as the genitals, anus or buttock.”
Symptoms of mpox include a mild fever, headaches, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, mouth ulcers or rectal pain, according to NSW Health.
It can spread to other areas until the lesions resolve.
The mpox vaccine is recommended for people considered at a higher risk of contracting the virus, including sexually active gay or bisexual men (both cisgender and transgender) and their sexual partners, as well as sex workers and their partners.
Two doses of the vaccine are required for protection against severe illness, so anyone who has only received one vaccine should get a second dose within 28 days after the first.
