The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has published guidance on the use of smallpox vaccine for protection against Monkeypox (MPX) virus infection. The Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly has also released a statement declaring MPX a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance.
The Department of Health and Aged Care has produced a fact sheet to outline key information about MPX for patients and health professionals.
Specimen collection resources to assist healthcare professionals with the key steps involved in patient referral and testing of suspected monkeypox cases are now available. These include:
- Patient referral and testing guidance fact sheet
- Patient referral and testing guidance poster
- Patient referral and testing guidance video
Please regularly check the Department of Health website for updates.
Patients with monkeypox symptoms or concerns that they may have been exposed to the infection can be encouraged to contact their state or territory health authority urgently or refer to the website.