Mpox cases rise in Australia, 35 cases reported in 15 days

ANKARA

Mpox cases have surged in Australia, with 35 new cases reported in the past 15 days amid the global health emergency.

The New South Wales Department of Health said on Friday that 93 mpox case notifications had been issued in the state since June, following a recent spike in infections, most of which affected men through same-sex relationships.

“There have been 93 notifications of mpox in NSW since 1 June 2024. Before 1 June 2024 only one case was detected in NSW. In 2022, 56 mpox notifications were reported in NSW and in 2023 there were 12,” it said. said.

As of 2022, there has been a global outbreak of mpox, with more than 97,000 cases reported in many countries other than Africa, including Australia.

“With the recent increase in cases, NSW Health is asking people who may be at risk of mpox to remain on the lookout for symptoms,” NSW Health Chief Executive Officer for Health Protection Dr Jeremy McAnulty said.

“Mpox spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact, and often starts with small, pimple-like skin lesions, especially in hard-to-see areas such as the genitals, anus or buttocks,” a added McAnulty.

Since early 2024, more than a dozen African countries have reported the disease, which is transmitted through close contact, with the Democratic Republic of Congo accounting for more than 90 percent of reported cases.

According to the WHO, mpox causes skin rashes and flu-like symptoms.

*Written by Islamuddin Sajid

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