First case of new monkeypox strain recorded in Australia

In Australia, the first case of infection with a new variant of monkeypox has been registered in a man who recently returned from Thailand.

The first case of infection with a new variant of mpox (the new name for monkeypox) has been detected in Australia, reports BAKU.WS with reference to the SBS channel. The infected man recently arrived from a vacation spent in Thailand, and he was found to have the Clade 1b strain.

The Australian Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the risk of further transmission of this strain and its spread throughout the country is assessed as low.

Australia's Chief Medical Officer Anthony Lawler stated: "All cases in Australia are being monitored by state and territory health departments. Preparatory measures have been taken, and if necessary, we will be able to respond quickly to an outbreak."

From January 1, 2022, to April 30, 2025, 142,151 people from 133 countries worldwide have reported mpox infections, with 328 fatalities recorded. The WHO temporarily lifted the emergency mode due to a decrease in incidence, but on August 14, 2024, it again declared an emergency situation due to the increase in cases in Africa.

As the newspaper VZGLYAD wrote, this year the World Health Organization recognized the spread of monkeypox as a public health emergency of international concern.