Quebec reported 15 confirmed cases of monkeypox on Tuesday, compared to just five on Friday.
The Ministry of Health released few details about the outbreak, but said Montreal public health had been investigating cases of oral and genital ulcerations possibly related to the monkey’s smallpox since May 12.
The investigation was motivated by a recently identified case in the United States in which an American citizen had traveled to Canada from the United States.
The Public Health Agency of Canada says the person used private transportation to get to Montreal and may have been infected before or during their visit to the city.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the cases are the first time the rare infectious disease has been found within Canada’s borders.
The agency said last week that it was investigating about two dozen possible cases of smallpox in the country, in addition to confirmed cases in Quebec.
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Toronto Public Health said over the weekend that it was investigating Ontario’s first suspicious case.
Read more: 3 more cases of smallpox confirmed in Quebec, with a Canadian total of 5
Smallpox is a rare disease that comes from the same virus family as smallpox. This virus causes smallpox, which the World Health Organization declared eradicated worldwide in 1980. It is also related to the vaccinia virus used in the smallpox vaccine.
The disease is usually found in parts of Central and West Africa and can sometimes cause infections in people after exposure to infected animals or contaminated materials.
1:28 Suspected cases of smallpox in Canada cause public health problems Suspected cases of smallpox in Canada cause public health problems
Although uncommon, the virus can also be transmitted from person to person through contact with blood, body fluids, or damage to the skin or inside the mouth or throat of an infected person. It can also be hired to share clothes, bedding, or other common items that have been contaminated with body fluids or sores from a sick person. Respiratory transmission is also possible through coughing or sneezing.
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Health authorities in Quebec and Canada said the risk of transmission in social settings is low, as close and prolonged contact is required.
Read more: No need for mass vaccinations for monkeypox, according to WHO official
In a statement posted on its website, the Quebec Ministry of Health said the most common symptoms were skin lesions in the mouth and genitals.
Other symptoms to consider include fever, night sweats, headaches, swollen lymph nodes, and joint or muscle pain. Health officials warn that these symptoms may appear before or at the same time as sores on the skin.
Anyone who has had close contact with a suspected case or someone with symptoms of monkeypox is asked to be alert to the onset of symptoms for a period of 21 days.
The ministry describes close contact as someone who lives under the same roof as an infected person or has had sex with an infected person.
1:07 Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection, according to WHO Previous video Next video
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Because it is possible to transmit the disease up to five days before the onset of symptoms, contacts are requested to prevent sexual intercourse.
People living with someone who has symptoms should limit contact with that person and avoid sleeping in the same bed. It is also recommended to wear masks.
Someone who is ill with the disease or has symptoms should consult a doctor and isolate themselves from other members of the household as much as possible. Open wounds should be covered and masks should be worn when they are close to other people. The period of isolation may end once the sores have become crusty.
In most cases, the disease goes away on its own in two to four weeks, although in very rare cases complications can arise.
Department of Health spokesman Robert Maranda says Quebec is considering applying vaccines for the disease to the federal government.
– with files by Sean Boyton of Global News and The Canadian Press
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