As Quebec confirms an additional 10 cases of monkeypox identified in the province, the total number of cases in Canada is now 15, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
The latest update on the spread of the viral disease came in a statement issued by Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos on Tuesday night.
According to the statement, more laboratory samples from different jurisdictions in Canada are being delivered to the PHAC National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, and Canadians can expect to see more confirmed cases over the next few days.
“I know Canadians are concerned,” Duclos said in a statement. “The Government of Canada is ready to respond to emerging public health developments and take precautions to prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases.
The National Laboratory received its first samples in the week of May 16, before announcing the first two cases of monkeypox identified in Quebec on May 19. That number rose to five the next day. Monkeypox is a rare disease that was first discovered among colonies of monkeys used for research. Historically, it has also been transmitted from animals to humans, with the first human case reported in 1970. The virus can be spread through close contact with an infected animal, human or infected material.
The federal government is ready to help provinces and territories develop their own tools for testing the disease so that it can be monitored more easily, Duclos said.
“Our monitoring system works, as does our testing system, although we will continue to improve both, including supporting provinces and territories in building their own testing capacities so that cases can be identified and tracked further. “Effective,” Duclos said in a statement.
The government will also provide updated guidelines for infection prevention, as well as isolation and case management procedures. Canadians can expect the National Immunization Advisory Committee (NACI) to provide further guidance in the coming weeks.
In his statement, Duclos stressed that the appearance of monkeypox is not parallel to that of COVID-19, which quickly grew into a global pandemic.
“I want to reiterate to Canadians that this is a different situation from the one we saw with the advent of COVID-19,” Duclos said in a statement. “While the global understanding of the smallpox virus is still evolving, we have a stockpile of vaccines that we will certainly maintain and work hand in hand with our provincial and territorial counterparts to unfold our response plan as soon as possible. possible. ”
The federal government has said it has offered to deliver a small consignment of Imvamune vaccine and other therapies to Quebec to tackle the monkeypox epidemic. In April, Canada’s Public Service and Supply Canada launched a tender to purchase 500,000 doses of Imvamune measles vaccine between 2023 and 2028.
“Although smallpox is currently considered eradicated, PHAC provides a stockpile of vaccine to immunize Canadians against smallpox if there is ever a risk of smallpox being released intentionally or unintentionally,” the tender said.
In an effort to avoid contracting the disease, Canadians are advised to keep a physical distance from people around them, wash their hands often and wear masks in crowded environments.
With files from The Canadian Press
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