Mpox (monkeypox) is a re-emerging zoonotic disease caused by monkeypox virus (MPXV), an orthopoxvirus closely related to variola virus which is the causative agent of smallpox. MPXV is a large double-stranded DNA enveloped virus. Genetically there are 2 clades of MPXV, the West African clade and the Congo Basin clade. The first cases in humans were reported in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the decades since, sporadic outbreaks have been reported in Western and Central Africa. In the month of May of 2022 a number of countries outside of Africa reported cases of MPXV infections mainly in the MSM population. Mpox infection is a notifiable disease in NZ.
PLEASE NOTE: Currently there is no serology testing available for Mpox.
Microbiology - Virology
MPOX
Testing is performed on routine weekdays, if urgent testing is required please discuss with the on-call CHL Microbiologist.
MPOX
MPXV
24 hours
5093