NewsDesk @ bactiman63
Since the City of Toronto reported the first case of monkeypox on May 26, health officials say the total number of confirmed cases on June 2 is now five, with five more still under investigation.
Elsewhere in Canada, Quebec has confirmed 52 cases as of May 31.
Image / scottwebb
Smallpox is a rare disease caused by a virus that is commonly endemic to Central and West Africa. It was first identified in monkeys, but its origin is still unknown. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that often appears within days of the onset of symptoms and begins on the face and spreads to other parts of the body. Most people recover on their own without treatment.
Monkeypox spreads through contact with body fluids, such as fluids from monkeypox sores, contaminated clothing or bedding, or through respiratory drops after prolonged face-to-face contact. It can also be transmitted by biting or scratching infected animals. Anyone, regardless of sexual orientation, can infect the monkey’s smallpox by contact with body fluids, smallpox wounds, or sharing contaminated items. Common household disinfectants can kill the monkeypox virus.
TPH asks residents who present with these signs and symptoms to report them to their healthcare provider as soon as possible. Close contact with people suspected or confirmed to have a monkeypox infection is recommended to self-monitor symptoms for 21 days after last exposure. If symptoms appear, they should be isolated, looked for, and tested.