Limit Intimate Partners and Vaccinate to Protect Against Monkeypox Outbreak: Victorian CHO

Test tubes labeled "Monkeypox virus positive and negative" are seen in this illustration taken on May 23, 2022. Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters

The top health chief in Victoria has recommended limiting intimate partners and taking the vaccine to avoid exposure to Monkeypox (Mpxo).

This comes amid a spike in Mpox cases in Victoria in the past couple of weeks, especially among male sexual partners.

“The recent rise in cases means we also want people to think about reducing their risk in other ways, which could mean limiting the number of intimate partners and ensuring they’re sharing contact details to help with contact tracing if needed,” Victorian Chief Health Officer Dr. Clare Looker said in a statement provided to The Epoch Times.

“While the current outbreak has predominantly impacted men who have sex with men, anyone who has been in close, and usually prolonged, intimate contact with someone with Mpox is at risk.”

Victoria has recorded at least 80 cases of Mpox in 2024, with 71 acquired locally, three originating from overseas, and six under investigations.

Dr. Looker also suggested Victorians take two shots of the Mpox vaccine to avoid contracting the virus.

“One of the best ways to protect yourself against pox is to get vaccinated—it’s vital that you have two doses of the vaccine for optimal protection,” she said to the Epoch Times.

The chief health officer also recommended that people get tested, noting that there are likely extra cases in Victoria that have not been found.

“Around 25 percent of the cases in Victoria have been reported in the past fortnight alone, and there may be additional cases that have not yet been tested and identified. If you have any symptoms or believe you are at risk, please get tested,” she said.

According to advice from the federal government, the Mpox virus is part of the same family of viruses that cause smallpox.

Signs and symptoms of Mpox can include lesions such as bumps that turn into pimples, blisters, or sore and a distinctive rash.

Swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, back pain, chills, and exhaustion are also possible signs of the illness.

“The rash changes and goes through different stages before forming a scab and falling off. It can appear as lesions (pimples, blisters or sores, which can then burst to form ulcers or scabs),” the federal government states.

The virus is usually mild, and people recover within a few weeks. Symptoms appear five to 21 days after exposure to the virus.

The World Health Organization declared the monkeypox outbreak a “public health emergency” of international concern on July 23, 2022.

Mpox Vaccine Available in Victoria

The Victorian Health Department suggests two doses of the vaccine for the best protection, but it acknowledges infection can still occur after the jab.

“While Mpox infection can still occur following vaccination, it reduces the risk of transmission and disease severity. Two doses of Mpox vaccine are required for optimal protection. If you have not had a second dose, get it now,” a health alert dated July 4 states.

The JYNNEOS vaccine is free of charge for Victorians who meet selection criteria, including intimate male partners.

“Eligible people for primary preventative vaccination (PPV) include sexually active gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men,” the advisory notes.

Other eligible individuals include transgender and gender-diverse people at risk of Mpox exposure, sex workers, partners, people with HIV, lab workers, and healthcare workers deemed to be at risk.

“Vaccination may also be considered for healthcare workers at risk of exposure to patients with Mpox, based on local risk assessments. This may include primary care, sexual health clinics, hospital staff and others. The risk of transmission should also be minimised by using infection control measures,” the advisory states.

Vaccine Effectiveness

A United States Centre for Disease Control (CDC) study on the JYNNEOS vaccine found the jab to be 75 percent effective for one dose and 86 percent for two doses.

However, the study said the report’s findings were subject to at least seven limitations. These included possible selection bias, self-reported data, and small sample sizes.

Another systematic review on the effectiveness, safety, and immunogenicity of Monkeypox vaccines noted the “scarcity of studies” that assess the vaccines’ safety and efficacy.

“However, there is an urgent need to conduct more research focusing on racial response differences and responses among high-risk populations to ensure the health emergency preparedness to combat this disease,” the paper published in the National Library of Medicine noted.