Health alert: Rare Mpox strain detected in Queensland

A rare strain of Mpox has been detected in Queensland for the second time ever, after health authorities confirmed a case in the Metro South Hospital and Health region.

Monkeypox Virus. 3D Render

A Queensland man who caught a rare strain of Mpox during an overseas trip to Central Africa is recovering in hospital, with contact tracers confirming he was not infectious on his flight back to Australia.

The Mypox case was announced by Health Minister Tim Nicholls on Saturday, who said Queensland Health was on high alert.

The Queenslander is the second ever person recorded in Australia to contract the more contagious Mypox clade 1 strain after another man was diagnosed in New South Wales in May.

Symptoms initially mimic the flu including fevers, muscle aches, headaches and respiratory symptoms before the development of a rash.

In severe cases the rash can cover the body extensively, and very rarely, can affect internal organs.

Contact tracers have now identified 59 people - 40 hospital staff and 19 community members - who were potentially exposed to the man during the transmission period.

The man was not infectious during his return flight to Australia and passengers and airport staff have been assured they are not part of the contract tracing process.

Vaccines have been offered to all identified close contacts and the man’s family are now isolating at home.

Mr Nicholls on Sunday confirmed Queensland held enough vaccine supply.

“It is particularly spread by close sexual contact, and particularly for gay men and people engaging in sex, (that) is the primary cause of the contagion spreading,” he said.

“Over a year ago, there were some restrictions on the availability of the vaccine, but Queensland has ample supplies of the vaccine, and the vaccine is provided free of charge through sexual health clinics and some GPs.”

Director of Infectious Disease Dr Geoffrey Playford said there had been 135 cases of Mypox clade 2 recorded in Queensland over the last 18 months.

“This is the first case of clade 1, and indeed, the second time in Australia that we’ve had clade 1,” he said.

“And although I’ve said it’s more transmissible, in New South Wales in May, there were no secondary transmissions of that virus.”

Dr Playford said the clade 1 strain derived from Central Africa and “adjacent countries” and is more transmissible, usually leading to a more severe clinical presentation.

“We’re fortunate in this case that the clinical presentation is relatively mild, the patient is doing very well, and there’s no particular concerns for their health,” he said.

All close contacts have been asked to self monitor their symptoms and to contact Queensland Health through Metro South with symptom concerns or for specific testing.

“We define the contagion window as being four days before the onset of symptoms, until after the lesion, the skin lesions have crusted over,” Dr Playford said.

“There was no concern that the patient was infectious whilst traveling back from Africa.

“But it’s a little hard to say exactly what the percentage risk is, and that’s why... we take that precautionary (contact tracing) approach.

“We’re hopeful that that transmission is not particularly significant.

“Those who are traveling to areas where, specifically where that clade 1 Mpox variant is circulating and who are likely to have sexual contact over there, they’re recommended vaccines.”

Originally published as Health alert: Rare Mpox strain detected in Queensland