With Quebec confirming an additional 10 cases of monkeypox identified in the province, the total number of cases in Canada now stands at 15, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
The latest update on the spread of viral disease came in a statement issued by Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos on Tuesday evening.
According to the statement, more laboratory samples from different jurisdictions in Canada are being delivered to the PHAC National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, and Canadians can expect to see more confirmed cases in the coming days.
“I know Canadians are worried,” Duclos said in a statement. “The Government of Canada is prepared to respond to emerging public health events and is taking precautions to prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases.”
The national lab received its first samples during the week of May 16, before announcing the first two cases of monkeypox identified in Quebec on May 19. That number rose to five cases the next day. Monkeypox is a rare disease that was first discovered among monkey colonies used for research. Historically, it has also been transmitted from animals to humans, with the first human case recorded in 1970. The virus can be spread by close contact with an infected animal, human, or contaminated material.
The federal government is ready to help provinces and territories develop their own means of testing for the disease so it can be more easily controlled, Duclos said.
“Our surveillance system works, as does our testing system, although we will continue to refine both, including support for provinces and territories to build their own testing capabilities so that cases can be identified and tracked in a even more efficient, “Duclos said.
The government will also provide updated guidance on infection prevention, as well as procedures on isolation and case management. Canadians can expect the National Immunization Advisory Committee (NACI) to also provide additional guidance in the coming weeks.
In his statement, Duclos stressed that the appearance of the monkey’s smallpox is not parallel to that of COVID-19, which quickly became a global pandemic.
“I want to reiterate to Canadians that this is a different situation from the one we saw with the advent of COVID-19,” Duclos said in a statement. “While the global understanding of monkeypox virus is still evolving, we have a supply of vaccines, which we are sure to maintain, and we are working hand in hand with our provincial and territorial counterparts to implement our response plan so as soon as possible. “
The federal government said it had offered to deliver a small shipment of the Imvamune vaccine and other therapeutics to Quebec to deal with the smallpox outbreak. In April, Public Services and Procurement Canada tendered to purchase 500,000 doses of the Imvamune smallpox vaccine between 2023 and 2028.
“Although smallpox is currently considered to be eradicated, the PHAC is acquiring a vaccine reserve to immunize Canadians against smallpox in the event of a risk of smallpox being released intentionally or not,” the tender said. .
In an effort to avoid contracting the disease, Canadians are advised to keep physical distance from those around them, wash their hands frequently, and wear masks in crowded environments.
With files from The Canadian Press
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