‘Some spread of monkeypox likely’

More people will catch monkeypox in the coming weeks and months but the case numbers will be nothing like what we are experiencing with Covid-19, experts say.

The first case of the viral zoonotic disease in New Zealand was announced by the Ministry of Health on Saturday.

The person, in their 30s, is in isolation at home in Auckland and has recently returned from overseas travel in a country where monkeypox has been reported. A ‘‘very small’’ number of contacts are being advised to watch for symptoms and there is no evidence of community transmission.

Epidemiologists say the measures we have learned about and put in place for Covid-19 will be useful for monkeypox as well. It is able to pass from animals to humans but does not generally spread easily between humans.

Person-to-person spread may occur through sexual or intimate contact with an infected person, including kissing, and contact with clothing or linen used by an infected person. Direct contact with skin lesions or scabs or respiratory droplets from an infected individual can also spread the virus.

Dr Arindam Basu, an associate professor of epidemiology at Canterbury University, said people might need to take protective measures as more cases would likely emerge.

‘‘Monkeypox and Covid-19 are different diseases and spread through somewhat different pathways but at a personal level, personal hygiene measures and protection with masks are super important for both diseases.’’

Otago University infectious diseases physician Professor Kurt Krause said there was no need to panic.

‘‘We will likely get more cases but numbers will be nothing like Covid-19.

‘‘Almost everyone affected will recover very well.’’

A monkeypox test is already available in New Zealand to detect the virus.