Monkeypox rash usually develops following fever, chills and swollen lymph nodes and spreads across the body. Photo: Medscape.
The Territory’s first two cases of monkeypox have been detected, although ACT Health says the risk to the community is still low.
The two Canberra residents travelled to Europe and had recently returned to the ACT.
In a statement, the Health Directorate said both people have so far reported mild symptoms and are isolating at home with support from ACT Health and Canberra Health Services.
Health has sought to reassure the community the transmission risk remains low.
ACT Health is continuing to undertake contact tracing but so far has yet to identify any high-risk contacts.
ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman has described monkeypox as rare and not easily spread. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman said it is important to remember that monkeypox is rare and not easily spread between people, usually requiring direct skin-to-skin or prolonged face-to-face contact.
“Illness associated with the monkeypox virus is usually mild, although complications can occur,” Dr Coleman said.
“Symptoms may initially include fever, chills, muscle aches, backache and swollen lymph nodes.
“Following these symptoms, a rash usually develops that spreads to other parts of the body. The rash changes and goes through stages, like chickenpox, before finally becoming a scab.”
Anyone who develops these symptoms should stay at home and phone your GP clinic to organise a telehealth appointment in the first instance, or you can phone the Canberra Sexual Health Clinic on 5124 2184.
More information on monkeypox is available online.
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