NewsDesk @bactiman63

Canadian health officials report two positive monkeypox cases in Quebec. Here is the statement from the Public Health Agency of Canada:

Quebec map/EOZyo

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is working with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and public health authorities in the province of Quebec to investigate potential exposure and contacts of a case of monkeypox recently identified in the United States (U.S.). The U.S. citizen had recently travelled to Canada from the U.S. The individual travelled by private transportation and may have been infected before or during his visit to Montreal, Quebec.

As part of the ongoing investigation, health partners have identified individuals in Canada who have signs and symptoms which could be consistent with monkeypox infection. The National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) is undertaking additional testing to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of monkeypox for these individuals. Tonight, the Province of Quebec was notified that two samples received by the NML have tested positive for monkeypox. These are the first two cases confirmed in Canada.

People should be aware of the symptoms of monkeypox and report any concerns to their health care provider. Signs and symptoms of monkeypox can typically include fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, and swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that often appears within a few days after symptoms such as fever develop.

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PHAC has alerted public health authorities to work with health care providers to look for patients who have signs or symptoms consistent with monkeypox, regardless of whether they have reported travel or have specific risk factors for monkeypox.

This is an evolving and ongoing investigation, both in Canada and around the world.