10 Jul 2022

Monkey Pox in NZ

From Sunday Morning, 8:10 am on 10 July 2022

The country's first case of monkey pox was discovered yesterday  - with a person isolating at home in Auckland. The person is in their 30s, lives in Auckland and has recently returned from overseas travel. Ministry of Health says its already made preparations for the arrival of the disease - joining us is Acting Director of Public Health Dr Harriette Carr.

Monkeypox virus particles, illustration. Monkeypox is a zoonotic virus from the Poxviridae family that causes monkeypox, a pox-like disease. At the centre of the monkeypox virus is a core nucleoprotein that contains the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) genome. This is surrounded by an outer envelope that is covered with surface tubules. This virus, which is found near rainforests in Central and West Africa causes disease in humans and monkeys, although its natural hosts are rodents. It is capable of human to human transmission. In humans it causes fever, swollen glands and a rash of fluid-filled blisters. (Photo by NOBEASTSOFIERCE/SCIENCE PHOTO LI / DDJ / Science Photo Library via AFP)

Photo: AFP / Science Photo Library