MonkeyPox Alert for Winter Pride Attendees!
As per RNZ, people who attended Queenstown’s Winter Pride festival should be on the lookout for Monkeypox symptoms as people suspected to be carrying the virus attended the events.
The Winter Pride event took place in Queenstown in the last week of August.
Common symptoms of monkeypox are:
- rash.
- fever.
- sore throat.
- headache.
- muscle aches.
- back pain.
- low energy.
- swollen lymph nodes.
Dr Matt Reid, Medical Officer of Health had the following advice:
“If you think you may have been exposed to mpox or if you develop symptoms, especially a rash, you should stay home and seek medical advice,”
“You can contact your nearest sexual health clinic, your GP, or Healthline free on 0800 611 116, which offers interpreter services.”
Chief executive Joe Rich of The Burnett Foundation (formerly NZ Aids Foundation and Ending HIV) said anyone that was at Winter Pride with fever-like symptoms, lesions or spots in the genital area should refrain from sexual contact and get into a sexual health clinic to get tested.
Who is eligible for a vaccine?
- Men who have sex with men
- People who have sex with Men who have sex with men
- Anyone who is a close contact of someone who has been infected with Monkeypox.
More information about Monkeypox in New Zealand can be found here.
