The number of laboratory-confirmed monkeypox cases in Ontario has tripled in the past two weeks, likely reflecting a greater emphasis on surveillance and testing as global data on the infection mounts.
Ontario Public Health says there are now 101 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the province, up from 33 on June 22, with 85 of them in Toronto and all in men.
The remaining confirmed cases are in Ottawa (4), Halton (2), Middlesex-London (2) and eight other public health units, including Hamilton, Durham and Simcoe-Muskoka with one case each.
There are eight other probable cases in the province that remain under investigation.
While anyone can get and spread monkeypox, the recent outbreak in Europe and North America has spread significantly among gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men.
Federal guidelines indicate that the smallpox vaccine is most effective if given within four days of exposure to a case, but may help if given up to 14 days after exposure.
Monkeypox is usually spread through prolonged close contact between people who breathe, talk, cough or sneeze.
It can also be spread through skin-to-skin contact with rashes or body fluids, and it can also remain on items such as clothing or sheets that have come into contact with an infected person.
Symptoms can appear anywhere between five to 21 days after exposure.
Public Health Ontario says the most common symptoms seen are a noticeable skin rash (76.2% of cases), fever (56.4% of cases), swollen lymph nodes (54.5% of cases) and oral/genital lesions (51 percent of cases).
Current research suggests that even widespread testing will miss cases of monkeypox infection, similar to SARS-COV-2.
A study just submitted for review by Belgium on Tuesday found that three of 224 men tested for monkeypox tested positive despite reporting no noticeable symptoms of any kind.
“It is possible that in the current epidemic in non-endemic settings, asymptomatic carriage plays a more substantial role in the transmission of the virus,” the study authors wrote.
In late June, the World Health Organization (WHO) said it was aware of 3,413 confirmed cases of the virus worldwide.
The Public Health Agency of Canada says it is aware of 300 cases across the country, including 211 in Quebec.
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