Alberta has identified three more cases of monkeypox since last week, and a vaccination program is underway for people who have been exposed to the disease in an effort to limit transmission.
A total of eight adults in the Calgary and Edmonton areas have tested positive in the province so far.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, 300 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in the country, with the majority in Quebec (211) and Ontario (77).
Monkeypox is an orthopoxvirus, and although it is similar to smallpox – which was eradicated worldwide in 1980 – it is milder.
“I expected they would find a few more cases as contact tracing continues.” I know that Alberta Health Services is doing a lot of work to try to trace any individuals who may have some connection to each other and get advice on how to look for the disease,” said David Evans, a professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology. and Immunology at the University of Alberta.
“The numbers will no doubt go up a bit more as we continue to find additional cases or find some additional chains of transmission.” But I don’t expect them to make the kind of exponential jump that we saw with COVID, for example. ”
In a tweet Monday, Alberta’s chief health officer, Dr. Deanna Hinshaw, said contact tracing was underway for the latest three cases.
I would like to provide an update on monkeypox. A total of 8 adult cases have now been identified in Alberta, all in the Edmonton & Calgary areas. Contact tracing and an investigation is underway. The overall risk in the area remains low. (1/4)
—@CMOH_Alberta
Smallpox vaccine is available
As the outbreak grows worldwide, health officials in Alberta are offering one dose of the smallpox vaccine to people who have been in close contact with known cases.
This would include sexual partners, people who share a home and healthcare workers who provided care without appropriate personal protective equipment.
As of Monday, eight people had been immunized with Imvamune, which is approved for use in Canada.
The vaccine is ideally given within four days of exposure to the virus to prevent the disease. But it can be administered within a two-week window to reduce symptoms.
Craig Jenne is an Associate Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Calgary. (Jennifer Lee/CBC)
“If a person believes they have been exposed or is experiencing symptoms (including fever, swollen glands, new sores, rash) they should call 811,” Hinshaw said in the Twitter thread.
According to Craig Jenne, an associate professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Calgary, the overall risk to the general public is relatively low, but he expects monkeypox to occur in the foreseeable future.
“It’s still spreading. But it’s spreading slowly,” Jenne said.
“Even though we’re aware of it, we know it’s there, we’ve encouraged people to take precautions, there’s still a low level of transmission, and that unfortunately could continue for some time, whether it’s transmission here in Canada or … people , who acquire it while traveling and present with the virus after returning to Canada.”
Jenne believes a public awareness campaign will be key to making sure people understand the risks and how to protect themselves.
Health officials said the majority of cases worldwide were among men who reported having sex with other men, but they said the virus could spread to anyone exposed to an infected person or infected objects .
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