Mpox cases on the rise, with more than 120 cases in Victoria

Mpox cases are on the rise in Victoria and have a hit a new peak, with more than 100 infections reported since April.

Mpox cases are on the rise in Victoria and have a hit a new peak, with 120 cases reported since April this year.

The cases are not linked to the strain behind the significant outbreak in central and eastern Africa.

Chief Health Officer Dr Clare Looker issued an alert on Wednesday about the “ongoing outbreak” in Victoria, and said cases “were on the rise”.

“A subclade known as Clade IIb, has been largely circulating since 2022 in the global mpox outbreak, mostly impacting gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men,” she said.

“All infections reported in Victoria to date have been caused by Clade IIb.”

The state has now recorded 121 cases in 2024 – far more than the 8 in 2023 and the 70 cases in 2022.

Dr Looker reiterated that no cases of Clade Ib, the strain causing alarm overseas, had been detected anywhere in Australia but said people should get vaccinated to protect themselves against the strain that is here.

“Mpox is a viral infection that usually results in a mild illness,” she said.

“Most people recover within a few weeks. However, some people may develop severe illnesses and require hospitalisation.”

Symptoms can include fever, chills, tiredness, headache, sore throat, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, a rash, pain when urinating, rectal pain, bloody stools and diarrhoea.

“Mpox can spread from person-to-person through close or prolonged skin-to-skin contact, for example during sexual contact, as well as contact with contaminated items or surfaces, and respiratory droplets,” she said.

At-risk groups – including men who have sex with men, sexually active gender diverse people who may be exposed, sex workers and sexual partners of people in these groups – are eligible for a free vaccination.

A full list of Mpox vaccine providers can be found here.