In the early stages of the public health emergency of international concern, cases reported in Australia were travellers returning from overseas, but now local cases are being reported, particularly in Victoria. Associate Professor Deborah Friedman from Deakin Uni says they “don’t really know why” cases are taking off there and not in other states, with vaccines and information campaigns being rolled out at the same time. There have been about 91 monkeypox cases nationwide since May, including 40 in Victoria, where half have emerged in the last couple of weeks due to local transmission. Yesterday, the first local case was confirmed in NSW, and health officials have urged those at risk to be vigilant for symptoms. Monkeypox is not considered a sexually transmitted disease, but so far, it’s mainly affecting gay men and has spread through intimate contact. #SquizShortcut