The first case of monkeypox in British Columbia has been detected in a Vancouver patient.
The BC Center for Disease Control confirmed the infection through laboratory tests, it said Monday, and is awaiting further confirmation from the National Microbiology Laboratory.
Vancouver Coastal Health is conducting public health monitoring, a press release said.
A case of monkeypox in BC has been confirmed by laboratory tests at the BC Disease Control Center and awaiting confirmation at the National Microbiology Laboratory. Vancouver Coastal Health is monitoring public health. đź”—https: //t.co/Ww6lR16y3H
– BC Center for Disease Control (@CDCofBC) June 6, 2022
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Since May, more than 700 cases of smallpox have been found in non-endemic countries, mostly in Europe, according to the BC CDC. As of June 3, there were 77 confirmed cases in Canada, with 71 in Quebec, five in Ontario and one in Alberta.
“The risk of smallpox from the monkey to the general public is very low,” the center said. “The general public doesn’t need to be vaccinated.”
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The monkey’s smallpox is spread by contact with sores and items such as bedding or towels that contain the virus. It can also spread through respiratory droplets, distributed by coughing or sneezing.
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It is not known to be transmitted through semen, vaginal or rectal fluids, the center added, but it can be transmitted through close contact during sexual activity.
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“Anyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, could become infected and spread the virus if they come into close contact, including intimate sexual contact with an infected person or a contaminated object,” said Dr. Theresa Tam, responsible. Public Health Canada. he said in a briefing on Friday.
Read more: Monkeypox Outbreak: Canada now has 77 confirmed cases
Symptoms mainly include skin lesions in the mouth and genitals, and may also include fever, headaches, and joint and muscle aches, according to the World Health Organization.
Cases of monkeypox in Canada are suspected to have originated in a sauna in Montreal, doctors told Global News.
However, government officials have so far stayed away from confirming their origins in Canada, citing privacy concerns and stigmatization.
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The CDC advised people who have been exposed to monkeypox to watch for symptoms, which can occur five to 21 days after exposure.
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Anyone with symptoms is asked to visit a healthcare professional, wear a mask and cover the injuries, and inform the clinic in advance.
They should also limit close contact, including sexual contact, with other people, he added.
– With archives of Aya Al-Hakim
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.