One of the newly reported cases involves an individual who contracted the disease while overseas. Dr. Emma Sherwood from Health NZ advises anyone experiencing symptoms, especially a rash, to seek medical attention promptly.
The strain of the virus in the Winter Pride cluster is identified as clade II and is not associated with recent clade I cases in Africa. Mpox is categorized into two types – clade I and clade II. Both types have caused outbreaks in African countries, with a recent surge in clade I cases leading the World Health Organization to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Groups at higher risk of contracting mpox include gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, individuals who have sexual relations with MSM, those with multiple anonymous sexual partners, and individuals with various gender identities.
Symptoms typically manifest between 1 to 3 weeks after exposure, with most affected individuals developing skin lesions in the form of spots, bumps, blisters, or sores.
