Mpox outbreak: New case linked to Queenstown's Winter Pride Festival

A new case of mpox with a "likely" link to the recent Winter Pride Festival in Queenstown was detected yesterday, Health NZ confirmed.

This confirmed case brings the number of cases of mpox in New Zealand to 54 since the disease became notifiable in June 2022. Five have been confirmed so far in 2024.

In a statement, national clinical director Dr Susan Jack said the National Public Health Service was continuing to investigate after several people who attended the event - including yesterday's case - came into contact with people who later reportedly tested positive for mpox overseas.

"While it is possible that other cases may yet be confirmed, it's important to remember that mpox is a rare infection and the risk of it spreading widely in New Zealand remains low.

"Anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to mpox, or who develops symptoms, especially a rash, should seek medical advice.

"As the mpox virus can spread through close contact (including intimate / sexual contact) with a person with mpox, we also strongly urge anyone with symptoms to refrain from sexual activity and seek support."

Health NZ said most people with mpox developed a rash or other skin change known as lesions. Lesions are spots, bumps, blisters or sores, usually around the face, hands, feet, mouth, throat, genitals and anus.

The sores usually go through stages - they appear flat, they become solid and raised or bumpy, they fill with fluid, crust over and eventually flake off. The lesions were often painful and itchy, and could take a few weeks to heal.

Pain, bleeding or discomfort in the anus was a possibility.

Some people also experienced flu-like symptoms early on, including:

• swollen lymph nodes

• fever

• muscle aches

• tiredness

• Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM)

• Trans and non-binary people who have sex with MSM

• Anyone who is a close contact of someone who has been infected with mpox.

There are two types of mpox, known as clade I and clade II - both have caused the current outbreaks in African countries with a recent increase in clade I. There are no cases of clade I in Aotearoa, or in neighbouring countries.