Government confirms four NT mpox cases in 2024

Health officials have confirmed Northern Territory cases of a virus currently hitting southern Australia. Read the caseload.

The Department of Health has revealed the number of mpox cases across the Northern Territory this year has grown to four.

In response to a query lodged last week from this publication, the NT Department of Health revealed on Monday afternoon four cases of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, had been identified in the Territory in 2024, despite not saying when the cases occurred or whether they were still in play.

An unattributed statement released by the Department of Health on Monday instead focused on outbreaks in southern Australia with little additional information about the virus’ status in the Territory.

The NT CDC recommend high-risk Territorians receive an mpox vaccination. (Photo by FRANCOIS LO PRESTI / AFP)

A September surveillance update from the Centre for Disease Control said the NT had one case of mpox to that point in 2024 which it said had been contracted overseas, meaning the remaining three cases would have been relatively recently acquired.

The CDC statement said more than 500 cases of mpox had been notified in Australia since the beginning of 2022, with more than 350 cases nationally in 2024.

It said there had been multiple outbreaks in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, “with clusters linked to sex-on-premises venues and private parties”.

Lesions left from mpox. (Photo Courtesy of CDC/Getty Images)

NT Health urged Territorians at a high risk of developing mpox, including sexually active gay or bisexual men as well as sex workers and their sexual partners, to receive vaccinations.

NT Health recommended two doses of the mpox vaccine 28 days apart to ensure best protection and reduction of the severity of symptoms.

The vaccine is free and a Medicare card is not required.

The department said infections were mostly from patients who had not been fully vaccinated and said symptoms could commence between five and 21 days after exposure.

Symptoms include a distinctive rash with lesions which include flat bumps that become raised, fill with fluid and eventually crust and scab.

Other signs include swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle aches, joint of back pain, chills, fatigue, sore throat, inflammation of the rectum and mouth ulcers.

The department advised mpox was usually mild and people recovered within a few weeks.

Mpox is not easily transmitted from person to person without prolonged close or intimate contact.