Ottawa reports its first case of monkeypox

The first laboratory-confirmed case of monkeypox in Ottawa was found in a local resident, according to health officials.

The man has recovered from an infectious disease, the city said in a news release on Friday afternoon.

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has followed close contacts and says the risk to the public remains low.

Symptoms include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, headache, exhaustion, and a rash – or measles – that often appear on the face and limbs a few days after the onset of symptoms. It can spread to other parts of the body.

The rare disease comes from the same family of viruses that cause smallpox, which the World Health Organization declared eradicated in 1980.

It is not highly contagious, it is usually transmitted through prolonged close contact.

The lesions it creates usually go through stages: from flat to slightly raised, then filled with a clear, later yellowish liquid. Crusts can then form, dry out and fall off, according to the news release.

Transmission occurs through contact with exposed skin, respiratory tract or mucous membranes, such as the eyes, mouth or nose. While most people recover from the disease on their own, OPH encourages residents to report symptoms to healthcare providers. He also provided relevant information to doctors.

Monkeypox can be spread by body fluids from lesions, dried scabs, contaminated clothing and bedding, as well as by respiratory droplets after prolonged face-to-face contact.

The infectious disease is caused by a virus found in some animal species in Central and West Africa, which has occasionally infected people there – although cases have recently developed in countries around the world.

As of Thursday, Toronto has nine confirmed cases of monkeypox, with 23 other cases under investigation.

More than 100 cases have been confirmed across Canada, with the majority – 98 – in Quebec.

In Ottawa, and in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health, OPH has administered the IMVAMUNE smallpox vaccine to high-risk contacts with a confirmed case.