The first laboratory-confirmed case of monkeypox has been identified on Vancouver Island, Island Health announced Friday.
The case, found in a person in the South Island, was confirmed by the British Columbia Center for Disease Control. Island Health conducts contact tracing and notification.
The risk to the public is “very low,” health authorities said in a statement, noting that people with monkeypox have mild symptoms and do not need interventions.
It said public health teams received confirmation of the monkeypox case on Thursday.
As of Friday, there were 375 cases of monkeypox in Canada, including 18 in British Columbia. Quebec has the most cases at 248, followed by Ontario with 101.
Health Canada says other countries that don’t normally see monkeypox have also reported cases, “representing an extremely unusual event.”
Surveillance in areas where monkeypox is considered non-endemic has been limited but is now being expanded. The Public Health Agency of Canada says person-to-person transmission appears to occur among people in close physical contact with those who have symptoms. The World Health Organization provides up-to-date information on the global spread of the disease.
Monkeypox does not usually spread easily between people. Most, but not all, recent infections are among men who have sex with other men.
At Island Health, vaccinations are provided to high-risk contacts identified through contact tracing.
Symptoms of monkeypox usually appear one to two weeks after exposure, but can take five to 21 days to appear, Island Health said.
The disease can occur in two stages, with flu-like symptoms first followed by a rash, usually with pus-filled sores or blisters.
People are considered infectious from the time symptoms first appear until the sores are covered, dry, and new skin is visible. The virus can spread through skin contact or contact with clothing exposed to open wounds.
More information about monkeypox can be found on the BC CDC website at bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/monkeypox.
ceharnett@timescolonist.com
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