Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (an infection spread from animals to humans). It is caused by a virus that belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus (which also causes the variola virus responsible for smallpox disease and the vaccinia virus, which is used in smallpox vaccines). Since the eradication of smallpox in 1980, monkeypox has become the most important orthopoxvirus affecting humans, however, causes less severe disease than smallpox.
The incubation period of monkeypox is usually 7-14 days, with initial symptoms of monkeypox including fever, headache, backache and muscle aches, fatigue and lymphadenopathy. Historically, smallpox vaccines have been used in the prevention of smallpox infection, however, they are also likely to be effective against monkeypox.
There are two types of smallpox vaccines registered for use in Australia for the prevention of monkeypox, ACAM2000™ and JYNNEOS®.
Our new reference page outlines symptoms, transmission routes, epidemiology, current vaccine recommendations and links to the latest resources.
For further information, click on the link below:
MVEC: Monkeypox