Western Australia has detected its first case of monkeypox in a traveller returning to the state from overseas.
WA Health says the person is in isolation in Perth and their condition is being monitored.
Public health authorities have commenced contact tracing.
In a statement, the Health Department said the risk to the community from this case was low, but travellers returning to WA were urged to monitor for symptoms.
The Communicable Disease Control Directorate's director, Paul Armstrong, said returned travellers, particularly from areas with high numbers of monkeypox cases, should remain vigilant.
"Monkeypox is spread to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, either by direct contact with open lesions or prolonged face-to-face contact, or with material contaminated with the virus," Dr Armstrong said in a statement.
"A person with monkeypox can transmit the infection to other people through skin lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding.
"The initial symptoms of the illness may include flu-like symptoms such as fever or headache. A rash typically develops that appears as bumps, pimples or sores, and develops into fluid-filled lesions, pustules or ulcers. The rash can be widespread or localised to one area."
Until recently monkeypox was a rare viral infection endemic in Central and West Africa.
Health authorities have been surprised by the global increase in monkeypox cases being reported in non-endemic countries since May this year.
More than 25,000 cases of the highly transmissible disease have been reported in 76 countries outside of the endemic areas of Africa.
Australia has recorded about 60 cases.
The infection usually causes a mild illness and most people recover within two to four weeks. However, some people such as infants and immunosuppressed people can be at higher risk of severe disease.
Australia secures vaccines
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler announced on Thursday the government had secured 450,000 third-generation vaccines for monkeypox.
The vaccine can be used to help prevent the transmission of monkeypox virus and also as a post-exposure treatment.
The first 22,000 doses of the vaccine are expected to arrive in Australia over the next week.
