ACT Health: ACT records two monkeypox cases

ACT Health has recorded the first cases of monkeypox in Canberra. Here’s what the chief health minister had to say.

ACT Health has recorded two cases of monkeypox in the territory.

Both people have returned from travel in Europe and have reported mild symptoms and are isolating at home according to ACT Health.

According to the health authority, the risk of transmission of the illness in the community is low and while contact tracing is currently underway, no high-risk contacts have been identified.

Two cases of monkeypox have been detected in the ACT. Picture: Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images

ACT chief health officer Kerryn Coleman said monkeypox was rare and not easily spread between people.

She said the illness usually required direct skin-to-skin or prolonged face-to-face contact to spread.

“Illness associated with the monkeypox virus is usually mild, although complications can occur,” Dr Coleman said.

“Symptoms may initially include fever, chills, muscle aches, backache, and swollen lymph nodes.

“Following these symptoms, a rash usually develops, that spreads to other parts of the body. The rash changes and goes through stages, like chickenpox, before finally becoming a scab.”

Dr Coleman said anyone who develops monkeypox symptom should stay home and organise a telehealth appointment either through a personal GP or through the Canberra Sexual Health Clinic.