Australia's First 'Probable' Case Of Monkeypox Recorded In New South Wales
The Australian state of New South Wales made an announcement on Friday afternoon the nation's first "probable" case of the monkeypox virus, which has been spreading through Europe.
The case comes from a NSW man in his 40s who recently came back from Europe.
The disease usually occurs in the African continent, but has been spreading through the world in May of 2022 in non-endemic countries, predominantly in Britain.
NSW's Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the disease could not be transmitted easily between people.
"People can contract monkeypox through very close contact with people who are infected with the virus," said Chant.
"The infection is usually a mild illness and most people recover within a few weeks," she said.
Doctors and health centers across the state have been notified to raise their awareness for potential emergence of further cases in the state.
Similarly, authorities in the Australian state of Victoria have warned the citizens about the disease in travelers who recently returned to the state
Raina MacIntyre, head of the Biosecurity Program at the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), made it known that the disease is closely related or associated with the virus that resulted in people contracting smallpox.
"It is a respiratory virus but does not usually spread easily between humans, and usually only in close contacts. Infection rates of contacts in previous studies are about 3 percent," said the professor.
She said that existing smallpox vaccines would be effective against monkeypox virus, and recommended the nation stock up on vaccines should further outbreak unfurl.
This is so worrying, considering the fact that some countries are still battling with the corona virus. All the necessary measures should therefore, be put in place to the the further spreading of this virus.
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