A new case of mpox has been confirmed in Aotearoa after attending Queenstown's Winter Pride event last month — and there's concerns more cases are possible.
The case, who 1News has chosen not to identify, is isolating at home while he recovers from the viral infection.
He said he began feeling "a bit average" after the weeklong festivities "but nothing until that Thursday when some of the lesions had started to appear".
National Public Health Service national clinical director, protection Dr Susan Jack said the health service will be monitoring the situation "very closely".
She advised anyone concerned after attending Winter Pride or are experiencing symptoms to "seek medical care — either go to their GP or go to a sexual health service to be properly checked out".
Symptoms typically show up between one to three weeks after exposure and include a skin rash or mucosal lesions which can last up to four weeks. Some people also experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes, according to Te Whatu Ora Health NZ.
Mpox can be transmitted through close contact with a person who has the disease, contaminated materials or, in rare cases, infected animals.
Men who have sex with men are the most at risk.
"The muscle pain's probably the worst," the patient said.
"The lesions itself aren't itchy or painful in my case. I know that others have found it incredibly painful but in my case, they haven't been so I guess I'm possibly quite lucky."
He said he had received one jab prior to heading to Queenstown but was not fully inoculated due to the difficulty involved in obtaining the vaccine.
The vaccine has not been widely promoted while it awaits approval by MedSafe. However, the Burnett Foundation Aotearoa — previously known as the New Zealand AIDS Foundation — said the vaccine is available for those who are eligible.
"While we are waiting for approval of the mpox vaccine, to allow us to better promote it, it is already available and effective. The more pressing challenge we are currently facing is the capacity for the vaccine to be administered at sexual health clinics, with long wait times for many around the country," chief executive Joe Rich told 1News in a statement.
"Our vaccination rates for our eligible population are currently very low, with only a small percentage having received both doses of the vaccine. This number needs to be much higher to stop the spread and keep our communities safe.
"Ultimately, we need sexual health services to be adequately funded and resourced."
There have been five confirmed cases of mpox in New Zealand this year and 54 since the first case here more than two years ago.
While it's unclear at this stage if more cases could be linked to Winter Pride, Dr Jack said, the Public Health Service has "heard of cases" in Australia after attending the event.
"We're waiting for confirmation on exact numbers and any other further information they might have," she said.
She said infection is rare and the risk of spreading is low, they're taking the matter seriously.
"There's no need to get anxious. If you think that you're at risk then please seek care and advice on what you should be doing."
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