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Health warning on monkeypox 25 May 2022

Date issued: 25 May 2022 (update to 20 May 2022)

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

Issued to: Health professionals and the Victorian community

Key messages

  • Monkeypox is a rare disease that is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus.
  • There have been several cases of monkeypox reported internationally and local transmission has occurred among these cases.
  • The spread of monkeypox typically requires prolonged face-to-face contact. It may spread from person-to-person through skin-to skin contact, contact with infected surfaces or items, and respiratory transmission.
  • There is currently one case of monkeypox identified in Victoria, a man in his 30s who recently returned from the United Kingdom and is isolating away from the community.
  • The case was infectious while travelling on the following flights:
  1. flight EY10 which departed London on 14 May and landed in Abu Dhabi at 0615
  2. flight EY462 which departed Abu Dhabi on 15 May and landed in Melbourne at 0545 on 16 May.
  • As a precaution, anyone who travelled on these flights is being urged to monitor for symptoms. Anyone developing symptoms should seek medical care, wearing a mask and calling ahead to make sure they can be isolated away from others.
  • Clinicians should consider testing for monkeypox in returned travellers with compatible symptoms.

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