Urgent alert issued after second ever Australian case of Clade 1 strain of monkeypox detected, Queensland Health confirm
Queensland Health confirmed the case of monkeypox was detected in the state's Metro South region with the patient being treated at Logan Hospital.
Testing revealed it was a Clade 1 strain of the virus.
This makes it the second confirmed case of the deadly strain to be detected in Australia.
The case was detected from an overseas traveller with the risk to the wider community relatively low.
Queensland Health confirmed exposure to the public had been limited with contact tracing taking place following the detection.
Monkeypox is a viral infection with typically mild symptoms, including fever, muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes, followed by a rash or lesions.
It spreads primarily through close or intimate contact.
The Clade 1 strain is known to cause higher numbers of severe illnesses.
Health Minister Tim Nicolls said the infection was acquired in central Africa.
'He was not contagious on the return journey to Australia from Africa and those close contacts that he has been in contact with, including at the emergency ward and in other locations, are being contact traced right now and identified," Mr Nicholls said.
He said health authorities had identified 19 community contacts, including members of the man's family and 40 hospital staff contacts.
Free Monkeypox vaccines are available to high-risk groups through GPs and sexual health clinics.
Two doses are recommended for optimal protection.
'Vaccination is available for post-exposure prophylaxis as well as primary preventive vaccination. High risk groups, including all sexually active gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men and their partners, are eligible for free vaccines through sexual health clinics and general practitioners,' Mr Nicholls said.
"Over a year ago there were some restrictions on the availability of the vaccine, but Queensland has ample supplies of the vaccine, and the vaccine is provided free of charge through sexual health clinics and some GPs."
Monkeypox was first detected in Australia in May 2022.
The first case of the Clade 1 strain was confirmed in New South Wales in May this year.
Queensland Health is monitoring the situation.
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