VANCOUVER – The BC Center for Disease Control has announced the first case of smallpox in the British Columbia, with a national total of almost 80 cases.
The center says its lab has confirmed the infection in a Vancouver resident, but is awaiting further confirmation from the Winnipeg National Microbiology Lab.
It says in a statement that Vancouver Coastal Health is monitoring the public health of the case.
On Friday, the Winnipeg lab said 77 cases of monkeypox had been confirmed in Canada, 71 in Quebec, five in Ontario and one in Alberta.
Smallpox has spread worldwide since May, with more than 700 cases detected in countries where the disease is not common, most in Europe.
The BC Center says the virus can affect anyone through close person-to-person contact.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said Monday that while seeking secondary confirmation of the Vancouver infection, there is confidence that this is a case of smallpox.
“There will be more information on the details involved in this, but suffice it to say that the risk to the general public is low,” Dix said.
“But we want to make sure everyone knows and is aware of this problem, and knows all the steps that are being taken to support that person, their close contacts and the community.”
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 6, 2022.
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