OPH confirms first case of monkeypox in Ottawa
Posted Jun 10, 2022 08:32:00 PM.
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is reporting on June 10 the first lab-confirmed case of monkeypox in the capital.
OPH has followed up with close contacts and confirmed the individual has recovered. The risk to the general public at this time is very low.
Update: We are reporting one (1) confirmed case of the monkeypox virus in Ottawa.
The risk to the general public is currently very low. All close contacts of the individual have been reached & we are continuing to monitor the situation.
More info:https://t.co/GeHZDmXe7n pic.twitter.com/os5LGYiSg3
— Ottawa Public Health (@OttawaHealth) June 10, 2022
Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by a virus found in some wildlife species of central and western Africa. The virus, which may be found in an infected person’s skin lesions, blood, body fluids, or mucosal surfaces, may transmit to another person through contact to exposed skin, the respiratory tract or the eyes, nose or mouth.
Symptoms of monkeypox include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, headache, exhaustion and a rash (pox lesions) that often appears on the face and the extremities a few days after symptoms begin. The rash can spread to other parts of the body as well. Lesions usually go through stages, from flat to slightly raised, then filled with clear, later yellowish fluid, and can then crust, dry up and fall off.
Monkeypox virus can be transmitted through contact with body fluids, such as fluids from the monkeypox lesions, or from dried up scabs, contaminated clothing or bedding, or through respiratory droplets following prolonged face-to-face contact. Monkeypox does not generally spread easily between people; however, since the virus has been detected in Ottawa, residents should be aware of the symptoms described above and report to their healthcare provider as soon as possible if they suspect they have the virus. So far, most transmission in Canada has occurred between close contacts like intimate partners or household members.
More information about monkeypox can be found online:
- OttawaPublicHealth.ca/Monkeypox
- Government of Canada – Monkeypox: Outbreak Update
- Ontario Ministry of Health – Monkeypox Virus Overview
- World Health Organization – Monkeypox Detailed Factsheet
