New Caledonia's southern region has started a vaccination campaign against monkeypox.

Health authorities are recommending the vaccine to people with travel plans as well as gay men, transgender, sex workers or people who have had multiple partners.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the transmission of the virus can be by physical contact directly with open wounds, mucus, saliva drops or snot.

Anyone can be infected by monkeypox however, the disease has had high infection rates among gay and bisexual men.

Vaccine appointments can be made with GPs and there are 100 doses available from Thursday.

Social services director Patricia Pedre has told La Premiere it's important to vaccinate people who are travelling.

"The priority for this vaccination campaign is to vaccinate people with travel plans because there is a risk of bringing the virus back into the territory. It is not currently in the territory and we hope these measures will prevent it from coming back."

One case of monkeypox has been detected in New Caledonia.

The WHO reports a total of 27,814 cases of monkeypox, and 11 deaths globally. As well, 89 countries and territories have recorded infections.