Queensland Health has been notified of one case of overseas acquired Mpox in the Metro South Hospital and Health Service region and is monitoring the situation.
Tests have confirmed it is Clade 1 Mpox. This is just the second time this strain of Mpox has been reported in Australia.
Contact tracing has been occurring, and the community can be assured that exposure to members of the community has been very limited and the public should not be concerned.
Mpox is a viral infection with typically mild symptoms of fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes or fatigue, followed by a skin rash or lesions.
Mpox does not spread easily between people and is mainly spread through very close or intimate contact with someone infected with Mpox.
Vaccination is available for post-exposure prophylaxis as well as primary preventive vaccination. High risk groups, including all sexually active gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men and their partners, are eligible for free vaccines through sexual health clinics and general practitioners.
The government-funded Mpox vaccine is available to people at greater risk of Mpox infection through sexual health clinics and some GPs. Two doses of vaccine are needed for optimal protection and vaccination reduces the risk of infection and severe disease.
Pre-travel vaccination is free and recommended for people who may undertake sexual risk activities during travel to countries with transmission of Clade 1 Mpox.
If someone is concerned they have been exposed, please call ahead to the health facility first to inform staff so appropriate safety measures can be put in place and instructions given before attending.
