NSW Health has identified a fourth case and a probable fifth case of monkeypox in two NSW residents who recently returned from Europe.
The two men in their 30s, who were travelling companions, developed mild illnesses several days after arriving back in Sydney.
Both men presented to a doctor with symptoms clinically compatible with monkeypox. Urgent testing results for one of the men is consistent with monkeypox, making it the fourth case in NSW. His companion is likely to be confirmed as the fifth case.
Both men are isolating at home.
NSW Health is undertaking contact tracing, however investigations to date have identified no high-risk contacts in NSW.
These cases are not connected to the three previously reported cases in NSW.
NSW Health has praised the skills of the clinicians who identified the symptoms of a virus that until recently had never been identified in NSW.
Monkeypox does not present a transmission risk to the general community, and has until recently not been an infection most clinicians in NSW would have been looking for or concerned about in their patients.
NSW Health continues to work with GPs, hospitals and sexual health services across the state to provide advice on diagnosis and referral.
Monkeypox is endemic to part of Africa. However, the World Health Organization reports that since mid May 2022, cases of monkeypox have been reported from several countries that are not endemic for monkeypox virus. Cases have occurred among men who have sex with men as well as other people.
People who develop fever and rash should call ahead before consulting their GP or sexual health service.
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