The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) declared the first detected case of monkeypox in Ontario on Thursday.
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This is the 26th case detected, but the first outside Quebec, in which all the infections have been found so far.
“It is likely that additional cases will be reported in the coming days as the NML continues to receive samples from multiple jurisdictions for confirmatory testing,” the official statement read.
Cases of the virus are now reported in more than 20 countries around the world.
Out of the 11 African countries where this rare disease is endemic, three countries currently concentrate most of the confirmed cases: the United Kingdom, the first country where unusual cases were spotted in early May (71 cases), Spain ( 51) and Portugal (37), according to the ECDC.
The virus is not very contagious, and seems to spread only through close and/or prolonged contact.
“At the moment, the risk of infection for the general population is low. However, the virus responsible for monkeypox can infect anyone who comes into close contact with a person infected with the virus or contaminated objects,” reassured PHAC.
