Status: Active

Date issued: 19 May 2022

Issued by: Associate Professor Deborah Friedman, Deputy Chief Health Officer (Communicable Diseases)

Issued to: Health professionals

Key messages

• Monkeypox is a rare disease that is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus.
• There have been several cases of monkeypox reported in the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal and local transmission has occurred among some of these cases.
• There are no cases of monkeypox identified to date in Australia
• Monkeypox does not easily spread between people. However, it may occur through skin-to skin contact.
• Clinicians should consider testing for monkeypox in returned travellers with compatible symptoms.

Read the full advisory: Health warning on monkeypox.