The World Health Organisation (WHO) have stated in its latest updates that although overall mpox cases declined last week, four countries reported an increase in cases, with Mexico reporting the biggest rise in cases. Over the past 4 weeks, countries in the Western Pacific region—especially China and South Korea—reported 65.0% of global cases, followed by the Americas region at 15.6%. Portugal also reported a rise in cases over the past 3 weeks. Read more
Advice for travellers
Advice for travellers: Closely related to the smallpox virus, monkeypox is mainly found in Central and Western Africa. Rodents are the suspected reservoir, with monkeys and humans as secondary or ‘spill-over’ hosts. People can be infected by eating undercooked ‘bushmeat’ or handling infected animals, making infection a low risk for travellers. Read more on monkeypox.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.