Posted Thursday, June 2, 2022 3:17 PM EDT Last Updated on Thursday, June 2, 2022 3:17 PM EDT
Toronto Public Health says it has confirmed three new cases of smallpox in the city, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the city to five.
Officials said Thursday that there are still five additional suspected cases under investigation.
Elsewhere in Canada, Quebec health officials say they are now aware of 52 confirmed cases of the virus.
Monkeypox is a rare disease that was first identified in monkeys and is found mainly in Central and West Africa. Smallpox is related to smallpox, but has milder symptoms.
The virus has gained worldwide attention in the last two weeks as cases increase, specifically in Europe, the US, Israel and Australia.
The virus usually spreads from close person-to-person contact through respiratory drops, direct contact with skin lesions or body fluids, or indirect contact through contaminated clothing or sheets.
On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the most recent emerging cases around the world are in gays, bisexuals or men who have sex with men.
It can also be transmitted by contact with animals infected by bites and scratches and by the preparation of wild game meat.
Symptoms include fever, rash, or injuries to the face and body, headache, and body aches.
The monkey’s smallpox is considered infectious for five days before the rash begins and remains contagious until the lesions have begun to heal and the scabs have fallen off.
Most people recover in two to four weeks and the infection is rarely fatal.