Healthcare workers treating smallpox patients should wear appropriate N95 masks, eye protection, and isolation protocols similar to those of COVID-19, according to officials.
In a document on infection prevention and control released this month, Public Health Ontario says that while monkeypox has historically been limited to prolonged face-to-face contact or skin-to-skin contact with an injury, “the possible transmission during the prodromal period and similarities to smallpox virus, the potential for airborne transmission has been suggested. “
As such, these patients should be placed in an airborne isolation room with negative pressure ventilation when treated in a healthcare setting.
If this is not available, Ontario Public Health says the patient can be placed in a single room with the door closed.
When no options are available, officials say “precautions should be taken to minimize exposure to people around you.”
Healthcare workers must wear a N-95 respirator, gloves, gown, robe and eye protection checked and checked.
Public Health Ontario says these precautions must be maintained until the crusts have fallen off and there is new skin.
This is in stark contrast to how COVID-19 was treated in early 2020, when healthcare workers did not receive adequate PPE while treating serious outbreaks in both hospitals and long-term care.
In April 2020, the Ontario Nurses Association applied for a court order requiring some long-term care homes to provide staff with items such as N95 facial respirators. The association then argued that in some cases households closed their masks and “actively deterred nurses from using the precise PPE they deemed necessary”.
It seems as if Ontario health officials are acting quickly to contain the possible spread of this virus. The Ontario health director on Friday issued an order to health care providers urging them to report any possible or suspected cases of smallpox to the local authorities.
So far there has only been one suspected case of monkeypox in Ontario. He was identified as a Toronto man who had contact with someone who had recently traveled from Montreal.