Almost only men ill

Sharp rise in Mpox infections in Australia

(Bild: APA/AFP/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/Handout)

A sharp rise in Mpox infections (also known as monkeypox) is worrying the authorities in Australia. According to official figures, 737 cases of infection have already been registered this year. By comparison, there were only 26 cases in the whole of last year.

According to the figures, most cases have been recorded in the past three months, particularly in south-eastern Australia. Apart from two cases, only men were infected in Australia.

It is mainly men who are infected
A major global outbreak in 2022 also mainly infected men who had sex with men. In principle, however, the disease is contagious to everyone in close physical contact.

In Australia, the virus is spreading mainly outside the big cities, as doctor Matthew Shields told Australian broadcaster ABC. The doctor attributes this to lower vaccination rates.

Authorities call for vaccination
Australia's authorities are now trying to contain the spread of the virus by adjusting their vaccination recommendations. According to an official spokesperson, "people of all ages who are at risk of contracting Mpox" can now be vaccinated.

In 2022, the virus spread to a number of countries outside Africa, with more than 300 cases in Austria. So far, the current outbreak has mainly affected African countries, including Burundi, Kenya and Uganda in addition to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

WHO declares a public health emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern in mid-August due to the epidemic.