Alarming surge of Mpox clade 2b cases in Australia with 724 new infections reported between July to September 2024

Medical News: Australia is witnessing an alarming surge in Mpox (previously known as Monkeypox) cases, with a sharp rise in infections over the past three months. The nation, which recorded only 26 cases last year and 144 cases in 2022, has reported a staggering 737 cases so far this year. Most of these new infections have been reported in the last few months, raising concerns among health experts and public health authorities.


Alarming surge of Mpox clade 2b cases in Australia with 724 new infections reported
between July to September 2024

The Southeastern states of New South Wales and Victoria have borne the brunt of the current outbreak, with only two women being affected by the virus. A spokesperson from the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care confirmed that Mpox cases have been on the rise since May 2023. In response, Australia has expanded vaccination eligibility, allowing people of all ages at risk of exposure to Mpox to get vaccinated.
 
Dr Matthew Shields, a sexual health physician from Sydney, expressed concern that the virus is now being detected in rural areas where vaccination rates are lower. Dr Shields told mainstream media reporters and Medical News journalists that low vaccination rates in these regions could potentially drive a more widespread outbreak outside the metropolitan areas.
 
What Is Mpox?
Mpox is caused by a virus closely related to smallpox. It can be transmitted from animals to humans and can also spread between people through close physical contact, especially skin-to-skin contact. The virus can cause severe symptoms in some cases, including fever, muscle aches, and large boil-like lesions on the skin. These lesions are not only painful but can also leave scars.
 
Initially, the infection presents flu-like symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, and body aches, before progressing to skin sores, blisters, and rashes. This article explains that these symptoms can take two to four weeks to subside, during which patients may experience discomfort.
 
The virus gained international attention in May 2022 when the clade 2b variant spread rapidly, predominantly affecting gay and bisexual men. In July 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern due to the global outbreak. However, Australia has yet to report any cases of the newer and potentially more dangerous clade 1b variant.
 
Mpox Cases Skyrocket by 570% Since July
Federal health data paints a concerning picture: Mpox cases in Australia have increased by more than 570% since July. From July to late September, there have been 724 confirmed cases, marking the highest number ever recorded in a single quarter in the country.
https://nindss.health.gov.au/pbi-dashboard/
 
The spike in cases is particularly concerning given the low vaccination rates for the disease. While the virus has reached new heights, the vacc ination effort has not kept pace. At the end of March, Australia had recorded only six Mpox cases. By the end of June, the number had risen to 108, but the real surge occurred in the months since, with over 600 new cases reported.
 
Most of the cases have been reported in New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, Australia’s two most populous states. NSW alone accounts for more than half of all Mpox notifications in the country this year.
 
The Importance of Vaccination
Experts like Andrew Grulich, an epidemiologist at the University of New South Wales, emphasize the importance of vaccination, especially for high-risk groups such as gay and bisexual men. Grulich stresses that vaccination is the key to controlling the outbreak and reducing transmission.
 
"We need a much higher vaccination rate to stop the ongoing transmission of Mpox," said Grulich. While the preferred vaccine, Jynneos, is readily available in Australia, uptake has been disappointingly low. The vaccine, administered in two doses, does not entirely prevent infection but can significantly reduce the severity of symptoms.
 
Despite the availability of the vaccine, only 106,519 doses have been administered across Australia. This includes 22,795 doses this year, with fewer than 6,000 in NSW, the state hit hardest by the outbreak.
 
A survey conducted by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) involving 4,252 gay and bisexual men from NSW, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) found that only 42% of respondents were fully vaccinated. Alarmingly, 26% of those who had more than ten sexual partners in the last few months were unvaccinated.
 
Barriers to Vaccination
So why are vaccination rates still so low, especially in the face of such a severe outbreak? One explanation could be the public's perception of the disease. According to Grulich, many Australians underestimated the risk posed by Mpox, believing it to be more of a problem for North America and Europe.
 
A 2022 survey of gay and bisexual men in Australia found that while 15% of respondents were willing to get vaccinated, they felt no urgency to do so until the number of local cases increased.
https://www.publish.csiro.au/SH/SH23047
 
Now, with the virus spreading rapidly, this delay in taking preventive action is proving problematic.
 
Another issue is the spread of the virus into suburban and rural areas, where access to healthcare is more limited. Shields pointed out that in these areas, men who have sex with men may be less likely to engage with health providers or disclose their sexual practices, making it more challenging to reach them for vaccination.
 
Stigma and Mpox
There’s also a stigma associated with Mpox, particularly among gay and bisexual men, which could be contributing to the reluctance to get vaccinated. Mpox is still a relatively unknown disease in Australia. This lack of awareness, coupled with the stigma surrounding sexually transmitted infections (STIs), can prevent people from seeking care or vaccinations.
 
Some individuals who have contracted Mpox reported feeling stigmatized by healthcare providers. In 2022, a UNSW survey found that Australians who had contracted Mpox felt vilified, making them less likely to seek timely medical attention. Compounding this issue, the method of administering Mpox vaccines - designed to conserve doses during a shortage - left a visible mark at the injection site, which lasted for weeks. This led some to fear being publicly "outed" as having been vaccinated, which could inadvertently reveal their sexual orientation.
 
Conclusion: A Call to Action
The current rise in Mpox cases in Australia underscores the need for greater awareness and a more robust vaccination effort. The fact that vaccination rates remain low, despite the virus spreading rapidly, points to significant barriers that must be addressed. Health officials and community advocates must work together to raise awareness about the importance of vaccination and reduce the stigma associated with Mpox.
 
If vaccination rates do not increase, Australia could continue to see more cases of Mpox, leading to greater strain on healthcare systems and more individuals experiencing severe symptoms. Raising awareness and making vaccination more accessible will be crucial to ending this outbreak.
 
For the latest Mpox News, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
 
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/genomic-recombination-causing-rapid-evolution-of-mpox-clade-1b-diverging-into-four-lineages-and-14-subgroups
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/the-americas-had-more-than-64000-mpox-infections-between-july-2022-and-july-2024-yet-the-region-is-being-ignored
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/monkeypox