In response to the largest recorded mpox outbreak in NSW, the state’s chief health officer has urged people who may have contracted the illness to get vaccinated.
Dr. Kerry Chant said that since June 1, 2024, there have been 433 cases of the illness.
The rising number of cases of mpox is considered alarming.
According to Dr. Chant, 26 people have been hospitalized due to their symptoms.
Most of these were individuals who had not been vaccinated.
Of the 433 individuals infected with the illness, almost half were not completely vaccinated.
Around 40% were fully immunized, while 14% were given one dose, and the rest received only one dose.
In response to the outbreak, two free doses of the vaccine will be provided to individuals who have sex with or have partners who are Medicare-eligible.
Individuals who received one dose can get the second one 28 days after the first immunization. In neighboring Victoria, there have been over a hundred cases since April 2024.
The number of cases involving the illness has increased significantly in the country since 2023, when only 26 cases were reported.
Although mpox can be acquired by anyone, it is most likely spread through skin-to-skin contact among individuals who have had sex with or engaged in sex work.
These individuals are at high risk of developing severe illness. Therefore, health officials have urged all individuals who have not been vaccinated to get two shots.
She noted that the new strain of the mpox virus, which was identified in west and central Africa in January 2023, had not been detected in Australia.