The Northern Territory has recorded its first case of monkeypox, according to NT Health.
In a statement, NT Health said the confirmed case was detected in a returned overseas traveller who was currently in isolation in the Top End region.
The person presents no health or transmission risk to the public, the statement said.
Monkeypox is a rare but potentially serious viral illness spread person-to-person through close contact.
Most people do not require treatment for monkeypox and fully recover from the virus in a few weeks.
Initial symptoms of monkeypox include:
- fever
- swollen lymph nodes
- headache and
- body aches.
Symptoms are usually followed by a distinctive rash that may appear on the face, genitalia, inside the mouth, palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
The disease was previously linked with travel to Central and West Africa.
However, thousands of cases of monkeypox have this year been reported from several countries that are not endemic for the virus, including several European countries and the United States.
The disease was first reported in Australia on May 20 this year and to date, 41 cases have been confirmed, NT Health said.
Avoiding close physical contact with infected people is the most effective way to prevent infection.
While the transmission risk of monkeypox in the NT is currently low, NT Health has urged anyone with symptoms to seek immediate medical advice.
University of Queensland infectious diseases expert Dr Paul Griffin said Territorians needed to be alert but not alarmed by the latest case, with the virus only spreading by people “coming into direct contact with infected fluid”.
“People, particularly if their immune systems are compromised in any way, they may be more likely to get infected and more likely to get a little bit more unwell from this virus.
“But the main thing to say is that the vast majority of people will recover fully in three to four weeks.”
