A local family has picked up Queensland’s first confirmed cases of a new strain of mpox known as Clade 1.
Health officials say the risk of transmission in the community is low as contact tracing continues and close contacts remain cautious.
The first case, which marked Australia’s second ever case of the new strain, was discovered at Logan Hospital on 19 July.
It was brought in by a man returning from a trip to central Africa.
The second case was confirmed on 24 July as a “direct family contact” of the man by Metro South Health.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a rare viral infection with typically mild symptoms that can include a fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes or fatigue, followed by a skin rash or lesions.
Health officials say the infection “does not spread easily between people” and is mainly contracted through very close or intimate contact with an infected person.
A Metro South Health spokesperson said the health service was closely monitoring the situation and providing support to the family.
“The community can be assured that exposure to members of the public has been very limited and the risk of transmission is low,” they said.
Director of Infectious Diseases Dr Geoffrey Playford said hospitals and health facilities were well-equipped to plan for and respond to exposures to infectious diseases like mpox.
“The health and safety of our staff and patients is our priority; a number of staff who were identified as close contacts have been furloughed as a precaution,” Dr Playford said.
Chief executive Noelle Cridland said Metro South Health was working together to support Logan Hospital to continue delivering high quality care to the community.
“Logan Hospital continues to deliver services with the Emergency Department and all other areas safe and open for care,” she said.
“We thank our dedicated healthcare team and partners including the Queensland Ambulance Service for their support at this time.”
Metro South has asked those who are concerned they have been exposed to call ahead to the health facility first to inform staff so “appropriate safety measures can be put in place and instructions given before attending”.
Vaccinations are available for free to high-risk groups, including all sexually active gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men and their partners, at sexual health clinics and some GPs.
“Two doses of vaccine are needed for optimal protection and vaccination reduces the risk of infection and severe disease,” the state health minister Tim Nicholls said.
