Spreading far and wide monkeypox reaches Australia

NEW YORK: Eight countries were yesterday investigating possible cases of monkeypox, including the United States where a second possible case was reported in New York.

A day after a case was reported in Massachusetts, health officials in New York City also reported a possible case of monkeypox.

Canada yesterday reported 17 possible monkeypox cases. Several countries in Europe are reporting outbreaks as well: There are 22 suspected cases being investigated in Spain, 20 in Portugal, seven cases in the United Kingdom, one in Italy and one in Sweden.

A second case of monkeypox was yesterday confirmed in Australia as NSW Health last night said a man in his 40s who returned recently from Europe had confirmed the infection from test results. Earlier yesterday, a case was reported from a returned traveller who arrived in Melbourne from the United Kingdom earlier in the week.

The traveller, a man in his 30s, developed mild symptoms before landing in Melbourne on May 16 and sought immediate medical attention.

A GP referred him for testing, which came back positive, and he was placed in isolation on Thursday.

Contacttracing was under way for the GP in Melbourne and for passengers near the man on board flights EY10 (LondonAbu Dhabi, May 14) and flight EY462 (Abu DhabiMelbourne, May 16). — TCA/AAP