ACT Health has identified two cases of monkeypox in ACT residents. Both people have reported mild symptoms and are isolating at home with support from ACT Health and Canberra Health Services, the government said in a statement issued late this morning.

The affected people travelled to Europe and recently returned to the ACT.

The transmission risk to the community remains low. ACT Health is continuing to undertake contact tracing. No high-risk contacts have been identified.

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.

“If you have these symptoms, you 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 (02) 5124 2184.”

For more information on monkeypox, visit health.act.gov.au/monkeypox

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