NSW and Victoria facing local outbreaks of monkeypox

NSW and Victoria are both facing local outbreaks of the monkeypox virus, with medical officers urging gay and bisexual men to take preventive measures to limit the spread.

An ultrathin section electron-microscopic capture of the monkeypox virus. Picture: Freya Kaulbars/RKI Robert Koch Institute/AFP

NSW and Victoria are facing outbreaks of the monkeypox virus, with medical officers urging vulnerable gay and bisexual men to take preventive measures to limit the spread.

The announcements come as NSW recorded its first locally acquired case after recording three additional cases of the virus.

Victoria’s Health Department revealed on Saturday that 40 cases of monkeypox had been detected across the state, with NSW Health reporting 42 cases the following day.

Victorian deputy chief health officer Deborah Friedman said the virus was increasingly spreading person-to-person in the community and urged those who may be at risk to take “preventive measures” such as “limit(ing) sexual partners”.

“The department is closely monitoring cases and contacts to prevent further spread in the community and is encouraging people who may be at risk to take preventive measures such as limiting sexual partners, exchanging contact information with sexual partners in case it is required for contact tracing and getting vaccinated if they are ­eligible,” Ms Friedman said.

In a statement released on Sunday, NSW Health urged “the community, particularly gay, ­bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), to be vigilant for the symptoms of monkeypox following local transmission of the virus in NSW”.

NSW Health executive director of health protection Richard Broome said men who had sex with men and who are returning from overseas should organise a check-up with their GP or local sexual health clinic as symptoms “can be mild”.

“Symptoms usually begin seven to 14 days after exposure through skin-to-skin contact and can include fever, headache, body aches and a rash or lesions on the genital area,” he said.

“It is important that people with these symptoms avoid close contact with others, including sexual activity, as condoms are not effective at preventing the transmission of monkeypox.”

Australia’s first case of monkeypox was recorded in May, with the federal government ­securing 450,000 doses of the third-generation vaccine this month.

While vaccines are available at various sexual health clinics, Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton warned supplies were limited, with only 22,000 doses having arrived so far.

“We owe it to gay and bisexual men to inform them where the risk is now and to support ­reducing risk,” Professor Sutton tweeted on Saturday.

“Vaccines are currently in short supply but many more doses on the way.”