Monkeypox case recorded in a fourth Australian state

Monkeypox continues its spread throughout Australia, with a fourth Australian state recording a positive case.

South Australia is the fourth Australian state to recorded a case of Monkeypox, as the tropical virus continues to spread around the country.

The man is isolating at home after contracting the disease while travelling, and health authorities say there is no risk of further spread.

South Australia’s Chief Public Health Officer, Nicola Spurrier, said the man developed symptoms after he returned to Australia.

Monkeypox symptoms include fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion and a rash, similar to chickenpox, on the hands and face.

Symptoms usually clear up within a month.

A fourth Australian state has recorded a case of Monkeypox. Picture: AFP

On Wednesday, the World Health Organisation on Wednesday urged vigilance to prevent monkeypox from spreading to vulnerable groups, including children.

There has been a sharp rise of monkeypox cases reported since early May outside of the West and Central African countries where the disease is considered an endemic.

“I am concerned about sustained transmission because it would suggest that the virus is establishing itself and it could move into high-risk groups including children, the immunocompromised and pregnant women,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

“We are starting to see this, with several children already infected.” There are two cases aged under 18 in Britain.

Since June, more than 3400 monkeypox cases and one death have been reported to the WHO, from 50 countries, with hundreds reported in Britain, Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, Canada, the Netherlands and the United States.