As per reports, there have been 44 confirmed monkeypox cases in Australia, the majority of which were travellers who recently returned from overseas.
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Days after World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Monkeypox as public health emergency of international concern, the Australian government on Thursday declared the virus a communicable disease incident of national significance.
As per reports, there have been 44 confirmed monkeypox cases in Australia, the majority of which were travellers who recently returned from overseas.
According to Xinhua news agency, “The move means the federal government must implement national policy, interventions and public messaging to prevent the spread of the virus.”
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Most monkeypox cases in Australia were among people aged 21 to 40 years.
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Paul Kelly, who made the announcement, said monkeypox is “far less harmful” than Covid-19 and has not caused deaths during the current outbreak “outside of countries where the virus is endemic”.
He said monkeypox is also not transmitted in the same way as Covid-19, and is far less transmissible.
“Monkeypox’s rash and flu-like symptoms are relatively mild, and in most cases, resolve themselves within two to four weeks without the need for specific treatments,” he said.
The official added that the National Incident Centre has been activated to provide enhanced national coordination to assist states and territories to effectively manage the outbreaks within their jurisdictions.
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