Three people have been diagnosed with mpox (formerly monkeypox) in South Australia.
SA Health is aware of a man in his 20s, a man in his 30s and a man in his 50s who have acquired the virus locally.
The viral infection usually results in a mild illness that lasts a few weeks, however some people will develop severe illness and require hospitalisation.
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Deputy Director of the Communicable Disease Control Branch, Dr Louise Flood said “the risk to the public is low” but encouraged anyone eligible to be vaccinated to do so now.
“Mpox is not easily transmitted from person to person without prolonged close or intimate contact,” she said.
“If you do think you have mpox, seek medical advice and get tested.”
Vaccination reduces the risk of transmission and severity of the disease, and is free for close contacts of mpox cases and all sexually active gay or bisexual men and other men who have sex with men.
These are the first recorded cases of mpox in South Australia since 2022.
There has been 67 cases across Australia this year, 45 of which were reported in Victoria.