Ottawa: At least 10 new cases of monkeypox – a disease endemic to forested parts of central and western Africa – have been identified in Canada.
Following this, the total number of infections in the country reached to 15.
Health minister Jean-Yves Duclos said samples were being analysed and cautioned, “We expect more cases to be confirmed in the coming days.”
Monkeypox – cases of which have sparked concerns worldwide amid the ongoing battle with Covid-19 – is caused by a virus transmitted to humans from infected animals, most commonly rodents. Common symptoms include rash, fever, and painful lymph nodes, while milder cases may also go undetected and represent increased risk of person-to-person transmission.
The majority of cases this year have been reported in Europe.
A Lancet study – based on the first instances of in-hospital transmission and household transmission outside of Africa – has found that some antiviral medications might have the potential to shorten symptoms of monkeypox and reduce the amount of time a patient is contagious.
Researchers of the study also reported detection of monkeypox virus in blood and throat swabs.
The United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has urged travellers to avoid close contact with sick people, including those with skin or genital lesions. It also said contact with wild animals (dead or live) like rodents and primates should be avoided.
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