As the number of smallpox cases increases, just over 500 Quebecers have been vaccinated against the virus, according to public health officials.
“We’re vaccinating in a very specific way. So we vaccinated people who had high-risk exposure in the last 14 days,” said Dr. Genevieve Bergeron, Montreal’s director of infectious diseases.
POISON CASE SUSPECTION BROS Reported symptoms mainly include skin lesions in the mouth and genitals.
IMPORTANT‼ ️ see full information: pic.twitter.com/TN3KgBMYHw
– Health Montreal (@santemontreal) May 19, 2022
Most Quebec cases are in Montreal. According to Bergeron, the city has reached 82 cases, although not all have been officially confirmed.
The first two confirmed cases in Canada were detected on May 26 in Quebec, which remains the province with the highest infection rate.
Although monkeypox is not classified as a sexually transmitted disease, Bergeron said it is often transmitted through sexual contact.
“We’re seeing the chain of transmission primarily on social media in men having sex with men,” Bergeron said.
He said anyone who believes he has smallpox should isolate himself and notify those he has been in contact with.
Symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, swollen lymph nodes, and ulcers.
With Vanessa Lee files from CTV.