Two cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in Canada.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) made the announcement last night and said the cases were confirmed in two people from Quebec, where authorities had been investigating about 20 suspected cases of the rare disease.
It says monkeypox is a zoonotic infectious disease found in parts of central and West Africa that result in occasional human infections usually associated with exposure to infected animals or contaminated materials. Limited cases have been identified in other regions in the past, including the United Kingdom, United States, Israel and Singapore, but never before in Canada. For the recent international cases, it is not yet certain how the individuals were exposed to monkeypox virus.
Person to person spread of monkeypox is uncommon. However, when spread does occur between people the mode of transmission is through close contact with an infected individual, such as through direct contact with their body fluids, respiratory droplets, or monkeypox sores, or by sharing clothing, bedding or common items that have been contaminated with the infected person’s fluids or sores. As with many other diseases spread through close contact, people can lower their risk by maintaining physical distance, frequent hand and respiratory hygiene including masking.
People should be aware of the symptoms of monkeypox and report any concerns to their health care provider. Signs and symptoms of monkeypox can typically include fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, and swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that often appears within a few days after symptoms such as fever develop.
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(1/5) This evening, Quebec was notified that two samples tested positive for monkeypox. These are the first two confirmed cases in Canada. https://t.co/CXKHV49XVo
— Health Canada and PHAC (@GovCanHealth) May 20, 2022