Smallpox is spread from animals to humans and is considered endemic, or continuously present, in Central and West Africa. The Associated Press
As the number of confirmed smallpox cases in Canada increases and surveillance efforts increase, many of the pandemic-tired public are increasingly concerned about the risks of this new outbreak.
One of the most pressing questions health professionals are trying to answer is why the virus has been spreading for decades outside the endemic areas of Africa.
“This is a different outbreak than we’ve ever seen with monkeypox,” said Stephen Hoption Cann, a clinical professor at the University of British Columbia School of Public and Population Health.
As the monkeypox outbreak grows, fears of stigmatization for the LGBTQ community increase
Toronto confirms the first case of monkeypox; researching five more
Monkeypox extends from animals to humans and is considered endemic, or continuously present, in Central and West Africa. But the current outbreak is the first time that smallpox has spread from person to person in Canada. The virus is also spreading from person to person in a handful of other countries where it is not normally found, such as Belgium, France and Spain, which is why public health experts are sounding the alarm.
“What we’re seeing is something we’re concerned about,” said Jason Kindrachuk, an assistant professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases at the University of Manitoba.
On Thursday, the Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed that there are at least 26 cases of smallpox in the country, 25 in Quebec and one in Toronto, with several others under investigation.
Smallpox is related to smallpox, the virus that causes smallpox, a disease that caused a significant amount of death and suffering worldwide until it was officially eradicated in 1980, thanks to a worldwide effort to vaccination.
The long time since smallpox eradication and the end of vaccination campaigns, however, means that many people are not immune to this family of viruses. Those who were vaccinated before smallpox was removed have impaired immunity. These factors, combined with an increase in the incidence of monkeypox cases in Central and West Africa in recent years, are likely to contribute to the current outbreak in countries such as Canada, Dr. Kindrachuk said.
Smallpox is less severe than smallpox and many cases resolve on their own. The West African virus strain has a mortality rate of 3.6%, while the Congo Basin strain has a mortality rate of 10.6%, according to the World Health Organization.
Monkeypox does not spread as easily as airborne viruses such as COVID-19. It is usually transmitted through close contact with respiratory droplets, such as prolonged face-to-face contact; or through body fluids, such as monkeypox sores or contaminated clothing.
The incubation period is usually one to two weeks, although the range is five to 21 days, according to the WHO. Now that smallpox is transmitted from person to person in Canada, officials say it is important to understand the symptoms, which include fever, headache, exhaustion, muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes. A rash often appears in the days following the onset of symptoms, which usually begins on the face and spreads from there.
To date, many cases have been identified in men who have sex with men, but monkeypox can easily spread to any population, Dr. Kindrachuk said. The virus may have been introduced to these communities, but years of data suggest that it can spread and spread if conditions allow.
Smallpox vaccines are very effective against monkeypox, and Quebec officials said they plan to start vaccinating close contacts from cases and other high-risk populations in the province as soon as Friday. The vaccine can be given after an individual is exposed to the smallpox of the monkey to help prevent disease, which could be a major advantage in the effort to combat the current outbreak.
In addition to vaccines, there are some therapeutic treatments that can be used to treat people with monkeypox who suffer severely.
The incidence of monkeypox has been growing in Central and West Africa for years, and experts say the current situation is a clear reminder of the need to invest in these regions.
“Unless we start doing something in Africa to prevent this growth of the disease, we will continue to see more outbreaks outside of Africa,” Dr Hoption Cann said.
Our Morning Update and Evening Update newsletters are written by Globe editors and provide you with a concise summary of the most important headlines of the day. Sign up today.