Contact tracing has been underway in 27 states after a man who arrived in Atlanta, Georgia from Nigeria and then flew to Texas was later confirmed to have monkeypox – the first such case in the country since 2003. Currently 200 contacts are under surveillance, but the risk of infection is said to be low. In Nigeria, health authorities state they are consolidating monkeypox prevention, detection and control, with an emphasis on the high risk states of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Lagos. Read more
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.