The first case of smallpox confirmed by laboratory tests has been identified on Vancouver Island, Island Health said Friday.
The case, detected in a person on the south island, was confirmed by the BC Disease Control Center. Island Health is tracking and notifying contacts.
The risk to the public is “very low,” the health authority said in a statement, noting that people with monkeypox have mild symptoms and do not require any intervention.
He said public health teams received confirmation of the monkeypox case on Thursday.
On Friday, there were 375 cases of monkeypox in Canada, including 18 in BC, Quebec has the most cases with 248, followed by Ontario with 101.
Health Canada says other countries where monkeypox is not normally seen are also reporting cases, “which represents a very unusual event.”
Surveillance in areas where monkeypox is considered non-endemic areas has been limited, but is now expanding. The Public Health Agency of Canada says human-to-human transmission appears to be occurring between people in close physical contact with those who are symptomatic. The World Health Organization offers updates on the global spread of the disease.
Monkeypox usually does not spread easily among people. Most, but not all, of recent infections have been among men who have sex with other men.
At Island Health, vaccines are being offered to high-risk contacts identified through contact tracking.
Symptoms of monkeypox usually appear one to two weeks after exposure, but it can take five to 21 days to appear, Island Health said.
The disease can occur in two stages, with flu-like symptoms appearing first, followed by a rash, usually with ulcers or blisters full of pus.
People are considered to be infectious from the time the first symptoms appear until the sores peel off, are dry and new skin is seen. The virus can be spread by contact with skin or clothing exposed to open wounds.
More information about monkeypox is available on the BC CDC website at bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/monkeypox.
ceharnett@timescolonist.com
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