Canada has reported 10 new cases of monkeypox and expects additional outbreaks
Key Takeaways:
- Canada has verified ten new cases of monkeypox, a disease prevalent in forested areas of central and western Africa, increasing the total number of infections in the country to 15.
- The CDC in the United States has encouraged travellers to avoid close contact with sick people, especially those with skin or genital sores.
- Because the virus does not spread as quickly as SARS-COV-2, scientists do not expect the epidemic will become a pandemic like Covid-19.
Canada has confirmed 10 new cases of monkeypox, a disease common to forested areas of central and western Africa, bringing the country's total infections to 15. In Quebec, additional instances of monkeypox have been discovered. "We expect more cases to be confirmed in the coming days," said health minister Jean-Yves Duclos, adding that samples were being analyzed.
Monkeypox is induced by a virus transferred to people from sick animals, most commonly rats, and has prompted widespread concern amid the ongoing war with Covid-19.
Rashes, fever, and sore lymph nodes are common signs, but milder instances might go unnoticed and pose a danger of person-to-person transmission. The bulk of cases has been reported in Europe this year.
Here are the most recent updates on the monkeypox outbreak:
> According to a Lancet study based on the first cases of in-hospital and home transmission outside of Africa, some antiviral drugs may have the ability to minimize the length of time a patient is contagious and lessen the symptoms of monkeypox.
> The monkeypox virus was also found in blood and throat swabs, according to the researchers.
> The CDC in the United States has advised travelers to avoid close contact with sick persons, particularly those with skin or genital sores. According to the report, contact with wild creatures (dead or alive) such as rodents and primates should also be avoided.
> So, the United States has only one verified case: a Massachusetts man who recently returned from Canada.
> The Danish Health Authority told public broadcaster DR on Tuesday that it will distribute immunizations to close relatives of persons infected with monkeypox.
> Madrid authorities have confirmed 11 new monkeypox cases, raising the total number of cases in Spain to 48.
> A young woman who traveled from West Africa was diagnosed with the monkeypox virus on Tuesday in the United Arab Emirates. The government provided few details on the patient but stated that authorities were checking contacts and taking "all essential measures" to prevent the monkeypox virus from spreading.
> Despite fears, scientists do not believe the outbreak will turn into a pandemic like Covid-19 because the virus does not spread as quickly as SARS-COV-2.
> The World Health Organization stated Tuesday that the monkeypox outbreak outside of Africa could be managed as more governments announced limited vaccinations to prevent rising illnesses.