OTTAWA – Three more cases of smallpox in Quebec have been confirmed, for a total of five through Friday.
This was stated by the Ministry of Health on Twitter.
Earlier Friday, Federal Director of Public Health Dr. Theresa Tam said the few dozen suspected cases of smallpox in Canada came primarily from Quebec.
This week, Massachusetts authorities reported a case of smallpox in a man who had stayed in Montreal.
Among other possible cases yet to be confirmed across the country, Dr Tam said several contacts in British Columbia are being closely monitored.
“We really don’t know the extent of the spread that has taken place in Canada,” he said, adding that he expects more cases to be confirmed on Friday or the following days. .
Currently, all cases of this disease, the symptoms of which include pustules and fever, are validated at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg.
Discussions are underway across the network of labs across the country to see how to increase diagnostic capacity elsewhere, Drs. Tam.
Dr. Howard Njoo, Canada’s deputy director of public health, raised the possibility of prioritizing larger provinces and those with better technology capabilities, initially, although it is too early to tell. which is.
“It is really a technical discussion with our (national) laboratory and the provincial and territorial laboratories. (…) It is a work that will continue in the coming days and weeks,” he argued.
He emphasized the importance of educating the population and healthcare professionals about symptoms so that sample checks can be carried out when necessary.
As to whether smallpox vaccines will be used for smallpox, Dr. Njoo gave no further details, except to say that the issue is being discussed with his Quebec counterparts.
“At the moment, we have a few doses (in the bank) and we are always ready,” he said, adding that it is too early to determine supply needs.
Dr. Tam noted that discussions on the issue are taking place with all provinces as well as internationally.
“Essentially, there have been no clinical trials of these monkeypox vaccines to talk about, but I think as far as we know so far, they can be used,” he said, noting that a particular vaccine would be more appropriate. than the others.
Dr. Njoo also stressed the great efforts that need to be made to update the guidelines for use of this vaccine according to the new possible context of use.