With what is considered an effective smallpox vaccine against monkeypox, Canadian public health said it could dip into its vaccine reserves to try to fight the monkeypox outbreak in the country, specifically in Quebec, where at least two cases have been confirmed. recently.
At a press conference on Friday, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam several dozen cases Monkeypox is currently under investigation in Canada, with the majority in Quebec. Other cases are also being monitored in British Columbia.
We have great cooperation with our counterparts in Quebec to follow up the investigation in Quebec, but of course there are other cases in Canada. We had a teleconference with our counterparts in all provinces and territories to determine the points of contact.assured the Deputy Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Dr. Howard Njoo.
Discussions are being conducted between lab networks across the country to see how to increase diagnostic capacity for the disease, Drs. Tam.
Characterized by fever, headache, but especially the appearance of pustules on the body, monkeypox can be acquired by exchanging body fluids or by absorption of respiratory droplets. Widespread in Africa, where it is endemic, the disease usually heals on its own.
However, the classic smallpox vaccine is known to show a relatively high rate of effectiveness against monkeypox. This is why some Western countries where the disease has been diagnosed have started stockpiling vaccines against smallpox.
When asked about the status of Canadian smallpox vaccine stocks, Drs. Njoo that Canada currently has only a limited stock of smallpox vaccine, since the disease has been officially eradicated.
Smallpox has been an eradicated disease since 1980. It is also known that even if the disease is eliminated, there may still be samples in laboratories that could cause an epidemiological event with smallpox. This is why many countries, including Canada, have certain doses of smallpox vaccine.
” So far, we have several doses and we are always ready. We are currently in talks with the province of Quebec for a possible use. “
Remembering that the smallpox vaccine was not originally designed against monkeypox, Njoo warned that efforts need to be made in Canada and elsewhere in the world to update guidelines for the vaccine. use of this vaccine against a disease other than for which it was designed.
Source: Radio-Canada