The ACT Chief Health Officer is reassuring Canberrans that monkeypox is rare and not easily spread between people following recent reports of cases in NSW and Victoria.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said one case had been reported in each State, and both were associated with overseas travel from Europe.
She said that to date, most cases of the rare viral infection had occurred in Central or West Africa.
“Illness associated with the monkeypox virus is usually mild, although complications can occur,” Dr Coleman said.
“Symptoms initially include fever, chills, muscle aches, backache, and swollen lymph nodes,” she said.
“Following these symptoms, a rash usually develops, that spreads to other parts of the body.”
Dr Coleman said the rash changed and went through stages, like chickenpox, before finally becoming a scab.
The Chief Health Officer said it was important to remember that monkeypox was rare and not easily spread between people, usually requiring direct skin-to-skin or prolonged face-to-face contact.
“If you have these symptoms, you should stay at home and phone your GP clinic to organise a telehealth appointment in the first instance, or you can phone the Canberra Sexual Health Clinic on (02) 5124 2184,” she said.
“It is extremely rare to have monkeypox if someone has not travelled to endemic countries or come in physical contact with a person who has monkeypox disease.”
Dr Coleman said a clinician alert had been issued to GPs and hospitals to provide advice on monkeypox referral and diagnosis.
Further information on monkeypox is available on the ACT Health website at this PS News link.
