A day after confirming the first case of smallpox in the city, Hamilton’s public health has announced that it will host a second emerging immunization clinic to fight the virus.
The clinic, aimed at at-risk community members, takes place July 7 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the East End Public Health Clinic, 247 Centennial Pkwy. N., Unit 8.
It is necessary to request an appointment.
Public health said Monday in a statement that the infected resident probably caught the virus during a recent visit to Toronto. They are isolating themselves and their close contacts have been notified.
The risk to the public remains low, according to public health.
Thursday’s vaccination clinic is for people over the age of 18, identified as men in the LGBTQ community who have sex with other men and to whom at least one of the following conditions applies:
- Identify yourself as a contact from a person who recently tested positive for monkeypox;
- Have had two or more sexual partners in the last three weeks (21 days) or may be planning to do so;
- They have been diagnosed with a chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis infection for the past two months;
- Have attended baths, sex clubs and other places of sexual contact during the last 21 days (including workers and volunteers); o
- Having had anonymous or casual sex for the past three weeks (21 days); for example, after using an online dating app, engage or plan to engage in sex work.
Smallpox is transmitted by contact with body fluids, by respiratory drops after prolonged face-to-face contact, or by bites and scratches from infected animals. Symptoms can take six to 13 days to appear after exposure to the virus.
Monkeypox can cause fever, headaches, swollen lymph nodes, rashes and exhaustion. Most people recover on their own without treatment.
As of Tuesday, there have been 101 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the lab in Ontario.
At the first vaccination clinic, Hamilton Public Health vaccinated more than 60 community members, according to a statement.
To book an appointment at the clinic, call the public health hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7.
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