NSW Health confirms the first case of Monkeypox.

While Australia and the rest of the world are still managing the COVID crisis a new viral threat has just arrived on our shores as NSW Health confirm a recently returned traveller from Europe has the monkeypox virus.

The urgent testing that identified the probable case of monkeypox has been confirmed by further tests.

The man in his 40s continues to isolate at home, with care and support being provided by their GP and NSW Health.

Cases of monkeypox have been identified in several non-endemic countries in recent weeks, including several European countries and the United States.

“Cases are occasionally reported in non-endemic countries in returning travellers or their close contacts, or in owners of imported pets. People can contract monkeypox through very close contact with people who are infected with the virus,” Dr Chant said.

“The infection is usually a mild illness and most people recover within a few weeks.”

Watch: NSW Health press conference

What is Monkeypox

Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when outbreaks of a viral disease occurred in monkeys kept in zoos in the United States – hence the name Monkeypox.

The first human case however was reported in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since then, there have been sporadic outbreaks of monkeypox in Africa. The most recent outbreak occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2017.

Monkeypox symptoms

The early symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, and back pain. These are followed by a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. The rash typically goes through three stages: first, small red spots appear on the skin; then, the spots turn into blisters; finally, the blisters scab over and fall off.

Is there a vaccine or cure for Monkeypox?

There is no proven treatment for the monkeypox virus infection, according to the CDC, however the smallpox vaccine is known to protect against monkeypox, with a greater than 85 per cent efficacy.

Is Monkeypox as serious as COVID-19?

While Sydney has just confirmed their first case, other confirmed monkeypox cases are concurrently popping up in different countries where the disease is not normally seen – which is what is raising concerns.

“The worldwide concern from public health authorities is trying to understand how these are related to each other and what the causes are,” said Agam Rao, an infectious disease specialist and poxvirus expert at the CDC.

“The risk is still very rare,” she said, and the strain of monkeypox currently being detected is relatively mild.

So while many disease experts are cautious and concerned – monkeypox isn’t COVID – they’re different diseases with markedly different properties. COVID was also a completely unfamiliar viral disease when it first appeared, but monkeypox is a known quantity. So the chances of a COVID-like pandemic are quite low.

Further information on monkeypox is available from the World Health Organization.

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