The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit has reported its first laboratory-confirmed case of monkeypox in the region.
The health unit did not disclose any information about the person in a news release about the confirmed case.
Monkey pox is an infectious disease caused by a virus that is found in some wild animals in Central and West Africa but has spread to Canada. It is spread by close face-to-face contact with respiratory secretions of an infected individual or direct contact with skin lesions from monkeypox or contact with contaminated clothing or bedding. Intimate or sexual contact is considered one of the most common risk factors for transmission in Ontario.
Ontario’s Chief Health Officer, Dr. Kieran Moore, said the virus is not spreading quickly in the province and the vaccination strategy appears to be working.
The LGLDHU says the monkeypox vaccine is available for close contact cases if needed.
Symptoms of monkeypox include high fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, headache, exhaustion, and a rash that often appears on the face and limbs a few days after symptoms begin.
If a person has any symptoms of monkeypox, they should contact their healthcare provider and avoid close contact with others until symptoms are diagnosed and any rash or lesions have healed.
Add Comment