Australia monkeypox total at five after another two men tested positive

Australia records its fifth known cases of the monkeypox virus, after two unrelated cases returned positive results following trip to Europe.

Australia now has five reported cases of monkeypox after two residents, one from NSW and one from Victoria, tested positive to the virus within 24 hours after the country recorded its third case.

A NSW man in his 50s, who is now in isolation, developed a mild illness several days after his return to Sydney from Europe.

He presented to his doctor with symptoms consistent with the virus, and was urgently tested before returning a positive result.

Meanwhile, a Victorian man in his 30s who returned from the UK also tested positive.

The patients bring Australia’s total number of monkeypox cases to five after another NSW man tested positive to the virus on Thursday following his return from Queensland.

Two previous cases include a NSW man in his 40s and Victorian man in his 30s, both unlinked cases who travelled from Europe.

NSW Health has confirmed that there is no connection between NSW’s two cases and, despite three cases being reported in the last 24 hours, NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant is reassuring the community there is little cause for concern.

“Monkeypox does not present a transmission risk to the general community, and has until recently not been an infection most clinicians in NSW would have been looking for or concerned about in their patients,” she said.

Dr Chant praised the clinicians’ skills, stating that it’s their knowledge of the virus which led to the efficient diagnosis.

“A local GP has once again identified the signs of this virus, and we thank them, and their colleagues, for staying up to date with the latest clinical information to provide care to their patients,” Dr Chant said.

Monkeypox is endemic to part of Africa, but since last month the World Health Organisation has seen the virus become more prominent in areas where it’s not usually found, such as Europe.

Common symptoms associated with the virus include fever and rash, and it is usually transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding.