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Monday, Jun 02, 2025
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First Case of Mpox Clade 1b Recorded in Australia
A returned traveler from Thailand becomes Australia’s first known case of the more severe mpox variant.
Australia has confirmed its first case of mpox clade 1b, marking the presence of a variant that is typically associated with more severe illness.
The Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) reported the case in New South Wales earlier this month, stating it is currently the only known instance of this variant within Australia.
The infected individual is a man who contracted the virus while on holiday in Thailand and began showing symptoms after returning to Australia.
Authorities have assessed the risk of further transmission as low.
Mpox, which belongs to the same viral family as smallpox, is classified into two main clades: clade 1 and clade 2, with further subdivisions into subclades 1a and 1b, and 2a and 2b.
Historically, clade 1 is associated with a greater likelihood of severe illness and mortality compared to clade 2.
The disease is endemic to certain regions of central and West Africa.
However, a global outbreak of mpox clade 2 began in 2022, which is still ongoing.
According to the Department of Health's National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System, Australia has recorded a total of 1,726 confirmed cases of mpox since the onset of the outbreak; the majority of these, specifically 1,409 cases, were reported in 2024, with 147 cases identified in the current year.
Until now, all reported infections in Australia were linked to mpox clade 2b, which was primarily transmitted locally.
Mpox clade 1b has historically been restricted to Central Africa but has now been detected in additional countries.
Aside from Australia, confirmed cases have been recorded in the United Kingdom, Germany, Thailand, France, the United Arab Emirates, and Switzerland.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that cases in these regions have been connected to travel rather than local transmission.
Since January 2024, over 32,953 cases of clade 1b have been documented across selected African nations, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo reporting more than half of these infections.
Recent data from the CDC indicate that while clade 1 is typically associated with more severe outcomes, the fatality rate of clade 1b may align more closely with that of clade 2b, with recent outbreaks experiencing significantly lower death rates.
The symptoms of mpox can include a distinctive rash or lesions, swollen lymph nodes, headache, fever, muscle aches, joint pain, back pain, chills, and excessive fatigue.
The virus can spread through intimate or prolonged physical contact, direct contact with rashes, respiratory droplets, and contaminated items like linens or towels.
Most individuals experience mild symptoms, which generally resolve within two to four weeks.
In Australia, a notable proportion of cases have been identified among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, although anyone is susceptible to infection.
Vaccination against mpox is available at no cost to eligible groups, promoting preventive measures particularly for men who have sex with men, sex workers, and healthcare personnel at risk.
Individuals exhibiting close physical contact with someone infected, or those who are immunocompromised, are also considered high risk.
Health authorities recommend vaccination for those planning to travel to countries experiencing significant outbreaks, advising that vaccination should ideally occur four to six weeks prior to travel.
The Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) reported the case in New South Wales earlier this month, stating it is currently the only known instance of this variant within Australia.
The infected individual is a man who contracted the virus while on holiday in Thailand and began showing symptoms after returning to Australia.
Authorities have assessed the risk of further transmission as low.
Mpox, which belongs to the same viral family as smallpox, is classified into two main clades: clade 1 and clade 2, with further subdivisions into subclades 1a and 1b, and 2a and 2b.
Historically, clade 1 is associated with a greater likelihood of severe illness and mortality compared to clade 2.
The disease is endemic to certain regions of central and West Africa.
However, a global outbreak of mpox clade 2 began in 2022, which is still ongoing.
According to the Department of Health's National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System, Australia has recorded a total of 1,726 confirmed cases of mpox since the onset of the outbreak; the majority of these, specifically 1,409 cases, were reported in 2024, with 147 cases identified in the current year.
Until now, all reported infections in Australia were linked to mpox clade 2b, which was primarily transmitted locally.
Mpox clade 1b has historically been restricted to Central Africa but has now been detected in additional countries.
Aside from Australia, confirmed cases have been recorded in the United Kingdom, Germany, Thailand, France, the United Arab Emirates, and Switzerland.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that cases in these regions have been connected to travel rather than local transmission.
Since January 2024, over 32,953 cases of clade 1b have been documented across selected African nations, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo reporting more than half of these infections.
Recent data from the CDC indicate that while clade 1 is typically associated with more severe outcomes, the fatality rate of clade 1b may align more closely with that of clade 2b, with recent outbreaks experiencing significantly lower death rates.
The symptoms of mpox can include a distinctive rash or lesions, swollen lymph nodes, headache, fever, muscle aches, joint pain, back pain, chills, and excessive fatigue.
The virus can spread through intimate or prolonged physical contact, direct contact with rashes, respiratory droplets, and contaminated items like linens or towels.
Most individuals experience mild symptoms, which generally resolve within two to four weeks.
In Australia, a notable proportion of cases have been identified among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, although anyone is susceptible to infection.
Vaccination against mpox is available at no cost to eligible groups, promoting preventive measures particularly for men who have sex with men, sex workers, and healthcare personnel at risk.
Individuals exhibiting close physical contact with someone infected, or those who are immunocompromised, are also considered high risk.
Health authorities recommend vaccination for those planning to travel to countries experiencing significant outbreaks, advising that vaccination should ideally occur four to six weeks prior to travel.
