A 20-year-old man in Guelph, Ontario, is the first local case of monkeypox.
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health announced the case Friday.
Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum, an assistant health doctor, said in a statement that there is no increase in the risk of smallpox from the monkey to the general public arising from this case.
“The virus is transmitted mainly through contact with the fluid of the virus lesions, so it is important to be aware and take the necessary precautions if you are in close contact with someone who has monkeypox lesions,” he said. Tenenbaum.
Anyone who considers themselves a close contact of the Guelph patient will be contacted by public health.
The Public Health Agency of Canada said on its website that as of 10 a.m. Friday, there are 168 cases of smallpox in the country, 21 of them in Ontario.
“Additional cases are expected to be reported in Canada,” the agency said.
TARGET | The WHO will hold an emergency session next week on monkeypox:
The WHO will hold an emergency session next week on monkeypox
The World Health Organization will convene an emergency committee on Thursday next week to assess whether the monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern.
Smallpox is related to the smallpox virus, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health said.
Symptoms include:
- Fever.
- Headache.
- Fatigue.
- Rash / lesions (which may appear on the face or genitals and then spread to other areas).
“Most people recover on their own without treatment, and close contacts of a positive case can be effectively treated with a vaccine,” the health unit said.
Officials recommend that people understand the symptoms and contact your primary care provider immediately if they have any concerns.