Monkeypox: Canada reports 358 cases


Canada recorded 358 cases of monkeypox on Wednesday.

In an update released July 6, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) said 236 cases of the virus have been reported in Quebec, 101 cases have been reported in Ontario, 13 cases have been reported in Colombia -Columbia and eight were reported. reported in Alberta.

“The Public Health Agency of Canada is working with provinces, territories and international partners, including the World Health Organization, to actively monitor the situation,” read a statement on the website. PHAC. “Global efforts are focused on containing the outbreak and preventing further spread.”

In the update, PHAC notes that monkeypox continues to spread in areas of the world where the virus is not endemic, which it says is “a highly unusual occurrence.”

According to the agency, current information about the virus suggests that human-to-human transmission occurs through close personal contact with those who have a symptomatic case of monkeypox.

Canada is currently on a Level 2 travel advisory, advising travelers to take precautions abroad to protect against the spread of monkeypox.

A full list of symptoms and tips on how to protect against the virus are available on the PHAC website.

CURRENT VACCINATIONS

In some parts of the country, vaccines to guard against the spread of monkeypox are available for people deemed at risk by local public health authorities.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has released interim guidance on the use of Imvamune, a smallpox vaccine, to prevent the spread of monkeypox.

According to the PHAC, although there is no specific vaccine to protect against monkeypox, early data suggests that the Imvamune vaccine may be 85% effective in reducing the severity of symptoms.

In Alberta, people who have been in close contact with people infected with monkeypox are eligible for a vaccine. On Monday, eight Albertans were vaccinated.

In Ontario, people who may have been exposed to monkeypox may be eligible for the vaccine and should contact their local public health authority if they believe they have been exposed. Trans or cisgender people who have sex with other men may also be eligible for a vaccine in some cities in Ontario, according to the Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance in Ontario. A list of locations and other eligibility criteria are available on the alliance’s website.

With the risk to the general population still low, public health agencies are prioritizing those most at risk for vaccination. But PHAC warns that the risk of contracting monkeypox is not limited to one community.

“The Monkeypox virus can affect anyone in close contact with an infected person or their contaminated objects,” read a statement from PHAC. “Contrary to some recent media reports, this virus does not discriminate and is not limited to being spread from intimate sexual activity.”