Share this @internewscast.com

Australia has recorded its first case of the mpox variant that typically causes more serious illness.
The Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed a case of mpox clade 1b in NSW earlier this month — the first, and so far only, case of this variant in Australia.
The case was a returned traveller, and the risk of further transmission was low, a spokesperson for the federal Department of Health said.
A spokesperson for NSW Health said the case was a man who contracted the virus while holidaying in Thailand.

The spokesperson said the man had developed symptoms after arriving back in Australia and has since recovered.

What is mpox?

Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease, and comes from the same family as the one responsible for smallpox.
It is divided into two clades, clade 1 and clade 2, and further into two subclades: 1a and 1b, and 2a and 2b.

Historically, clade 1 is more likely to cause severe illness and death than clade 2.

Mpox is endemic to parts of central and West Africa, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But in 2022, a global outbreak of clade 2 occurred, which is ongoing.
There have been 1,726 confirmed cases of mpx across Australia since 2022, according to the Department of Health’s National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System. The majority of these (1,409) were recorded in 2024, and there have been 147 cases so far this year.
Until the recent clade 1b case, reported infections in Australia have been caused by mpox clade 2b, the CDC states. It says most of these infections were locally acquired.
It says mpox clade 1b infections were previously isolated to Central Africa but have since been recorded elsewhere. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists a small number of countries outside Africa where clade 1b cases have been recorded, including, along with Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Thailand, France, the United Arab Emirates, and Switzerland. It says reported cases in these countries are linked to travel and not local transmission.
More than half of the 32,953 reported clade 1b cases recorded in parts of Africa since January 2024 have been recorded in Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the WHO.

The CDC states that clade 1 has traditionally been seen as causing more severe illness, but new findings indicate that clade 1b, which was identified in 2023, shares a similar fatality rate with clade 2b. Additionally, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mentions that recent outbreaks have experienced “significantly reduced death rates”.

What are the symptoms of mpox?

Signs and symptoms can include a distinctive rash or lesions, swollen lymph nodes, headache or fever, muscle aches, joint pain, back pain, chills and exhaustion.
The virus can be transmitted through intimate or prolonged physical contact, close contact with rashes on the skin, body fluids (including droplets from coughing or sneezing) and contaminated objects such as linen and towels.
Symptoms typically clear after two to four weeks for most people, but some can become seriously ill.
The Department of Health says most cases in Australia have been identified in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, but anyone can be affected.

It says that most infections are mild.

Eligible groups can receive free vaccinations against mpox, with no Medicare card required.
Vaccination is recommended for men who have sex with men, sex workers, and healthcare and laboratory staff at risk of exposure.
Those who have close physical contact with an infected person or are immunocompromised are also considered high risk.
Anyone at risk who plans to travel to a country experiencing a significant outbreak should be vaccinated four to six weeks before travelling.
The best time for people to receive the vaccine is before they are exposed to mpox.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
t's an Amazon nightmare. Imagine hundreds of oversized packages appear on your doorstep -- and you have no clue why. You never ordered them.

“Hundreds of Misdelivered Packages Turn Woman’s Life into Chaos”

It’s an Amazon nightmare. Imagine hundreds of oversized packages appearing on your…

Exploring Australia’s Proposed Plan Against Antisemitism

Jillian Segal, Australia’s envoy on antisemitism, has put forth a strategy to…
Grok

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot unexpectedly shares antisemitic content

Grok, the AI-powered chatbot created by Elon Musk’s xAI, has begun pushing…
The plant found in oceans and pools could transform lives of thousands of burns victims.

Researchers Discover Plant That May Revolutionize Burn Treatment by Making it Faster and More Affordable

Thousands of burn victims across Australia might soon benefit from a new,…

“Brazil’s President Threatens Equivalent Retaliation to Trump’s Tariff Plan, Vows ‘We’ll Impose a 50% Charge'”

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his desire for a…

Follow-up: Video of Corgi on Apartment Balcony Raises Worries

A corgi has been surrendered and is now in the care of…
President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump Considers Doubling Tariffs on Australia

US President Donald Trump has declared his intention to impose a 35…

The US Targets UN Expert Francesca Albanese with Sanctions After Criticism of Israel’s Gaza Conflict

The United States is imposing sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations’…

US and NATO to Provide Ukraine with Weapons Ahead of Key Announcement on Russia

Donald Trump has announced that the United States will be providing weapons…
Geologist James Hagadorn closes boxes of core rock samples at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science on July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert)

Discovery Made by US Dinosaur Museum Beneath Its Parking Lot

A US museum famous for its dinosaur exhibits has discovered a fossil…
Desmond Avery will stand trial after pleading not guilty to all charges over a deadly home invasion.

Man Refutes Involvement in Home Invasion Resulting in Accomplice’s Death

A man facing charges for a home invasion that resulted in a…
Man charged over alleged $20 million cocaine plot

Man Accused in Alleged $20 Million Cocaine Scheme

A man is set to appear in court later this year, following…