Australia reports sharp rise in mpox cases with 737 infections in 2024

Australia has reported 737 cases of mpox in 2024, a significant increase from 26 cases in 2023 and 144 in 2022. Most new cases have emerged in the past few months, particularly in the south-eastern states. The rise in cases is linked to low vaccination rates, especially outside urban areas. In response, Australia has expanded vaccination eligibility to include all at-risk individuals. Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, can be transmitted through close contact and causes symptoms like fever and skin lesions. Australia has not yet reported cases of the more dangerous clade 1b variant.