Mpox cases in Australia surge past 1000

The mpox outbreak has reached its peak in Victoria in line with a national surge to more than 1000 cases in 2024, with some patients ending up in hospital.

The state's chief health officer on Friday announced that the number of people with the infection is the "biggest in Victoria since the first case was reported in May 2022".

Professor Ben Cowie said while mpox has mostly affected men who are gay, bisexual or who have sex with men, it can affect anyone.

"There have now been several cases in females in Victoria and heterosexual transmission has been reported," he said, meaning this is the first year where women have been affected.

More than 1119 cases have been notified to federal authorities, as of Friday, with three-quarters located in Victoria and NSW (329 and 512, respectively).

In the six months to Thursday, there have been confirmed hospitalisations in both Victoria (27) and NSW (28).

Tasmania is the only state unaffected. There have been 85 cases in Queensland, 15 in the ACT, eight in South Australia, four in the Northern Territory and two in Western Australia.

Mpox is caused by the monkeypox virus, which is from the same family as the one responsible for smallpox..

In August, Australia had the second-highest number of confirmed cases in the world.

The virus is transmitted chiefly through prolonged physical or intimate contact with an infected person.

A painful rash, lesions or sores, fever, chills, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and sore throat are among the common symptoms.

Most patients recover, but some can become seriously ill.

Vaccinations have also been used to suppress mpox.