Nearly a dozen monkeypox cases in NSW

Nearly a dozen monkeypox cases in NSW amid fears of local spread

New South Wales residents have been warned to look out for symptoms of monkeypox after 11 cases of the virus were confirmed in the state.

Two of those cases are believed to have been acquired in Australia, with the remainder coming from overseas.

Health authorities are concerned the virus is being locally transmitted, which has sparked the warning for residents to watch for symptoms, particularly for men who have sex with men.

This electron microscopic (EM) image depicted a monkeypox virion, obtained from a clinical sample associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. It was a thin section image from of a human skin sample. On the left were mature, oval-shaped virus particles, and on the right were the crescents, and spherical particles of immature virions. High Resolution: Click here for hi-resolution image (5.21 MB) Content Providers(s): CDC/ Cynthia S. Goldsmith Creation Date: 2003 Photo Credit: Cynthia S. Goldsmi (AP)

“People need to be aware of the symptoms of monkeypox, which can include fever, headache, body aches and a rash or lesions on the genital area,” NSW Health Executive Director of Health Protection Dr Jeremy McAnulty said.

“So far, in the cases, we have seen in NSW, monkeypox is not presenting the way some people expect, such as an extensive rash or lesions all over the body.

“It could just be a couple of what seem to be pimples in the genital area or buttocks, so people need to pay careful attention to any potential symptoms. Most of our cases to date have presented to sexual health clinics, rather than GPs.”

Monkeypox is endemic to part of Africa, however thousands of cases have been reported from non-endemic countries since May this year.

Many of the cases are in men who have sex with men.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said monkeypox symptoms are “very similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe”.

Monkeypox is traditionally found only in Africa, or in people who have recently returned from the continent. (AP)

It is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, the WHO said.

Monkeypox infection is determined by testing the blister fluid or scabs from a skin rash which often occurs within two weeks of exposure to the virus.