The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) has confirmed that monkeypox, also known as monkey pox or monkeypox in English, is indeed present in Quebec.
The results of laboratory tests confirmed the fears of the authorities. Thus, the first two cases of monkey pox were confirmed, the MSSS Thursday night via press release. Twenty other cases of genital ulcer lesions currently being studied, he added.
Montreal’s regional public health direction (DRSP) for its part indicated this morning that 17 suspected cases are currently under study in the metropolis, four more than the figure announced the previous day by Radio- Canada.
All reported cases so far involve men having sex with menunderlined the opinion submitted by DRSP to metropolis doctors, Thursday.
Infected men have unusual sores in the vagina and mouth at mild systemic symptoms that occur before or after the rash appearsbut – even though sometimes the disease can be fatal – no serious cases have been observed so far.
The virus has been around for some time
The first cases in Montreal were reported on May 12 in clinics that specialize in sexually transmitted and blood -borne infections (STBBI). The symptoms of the first patients began to appear on April 29.
An epidemiological investigation was launched to follow the evolution of the outbreak. Physicians are encouraged to report suspected cases, even if it is unreportable illness. People with symptoms should also contact a doctor, Dr. added. Drouin.
Monkeypox is not a STBBIs, but it is mainly transmitted through direct, indirect and droplet contact. The incubation period varies from 5 to 21 days, but infection begins five days before the first symptoms, then lasts the entire period of skin lesionsexplained Dr. Drouin.
That said, it’s safe to ride public transportation or buy groceries, according to Dr. Drouin.
” We don’t have to panic at the population level. We see that clearly, requires close contact, so when shopping for groceries, taking the metro, doing your activities, there is currently no risk. “
“Close contacts” are people living in a case and sexual partners, he said. “Close contact” should monitor for any symptoms and consult if necessary, but they do not have to self-isolate.
Monkeypox often presents with fever, headache or back pain, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and skin rashes similar to those caused by chickenpox.
There is no specific treatment for this disease, which generally cures on its own. But in the UK, a single dose of the classic smallpox vaccine is given as a preventive measure.
An unusual virus
Endemic to West Africa, this disease is relatively rare in Europe and North America. It is usually transmitted through contact with infected animals, but it can also spread to humans.
However, outbreaks have recently been recorded in the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Italy and France.
On Wednesday, a first case was seen in the United States by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, indicating that the man in question had recently traveled to Canada. The health expert website STAT News later clarified that he had traveled to Quebec.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the first case of monkeypox outside Africa was detected in the UK on May 6. The infected man returned from a trip to Nigeria.
British authorities have indicated that recent cases [étaient] most are gay, bisexual, or men who have sex with men.
According to Dr. Robert Pilarski, founder of La Licorne medical clinic in Montreal, the emergence of monkeypox in a restricted circle of people is simply a combination of circumstances.
Like the first man, he was a man who had a relationship with men, so I thought he was only in a relationship with men, so homosexual-only spread, he explains. But if it’s a heterosexual woman or man, it can happen.
” The virus does not select race or sexual orientation or gender. Anyone can be infected with this virus. “
Monkeypox is usually mild, and most infections last two to four weeks. Infections with this type of disease are fatal in 1% of cases, but mortality may be higher in immunocompromised people.
There is information from Normand Grondin and La Presse canadienne
Source: Radio-Canada