“What public health is doing right now is sharing monkey pox information with community primary care and health organizations,” said Jemima Pimou Bogna, a public health nurse at Public Health Sudbury and Districts. Smallpox is a viral disease that can lead to rashes and lesions that usually start on the face and can spread to other parts of the body. “Some other symptoms may include new skin rashes, rashes, fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches and pains or some swollen lymph nodes,” said Pimou Bogna. He said most cases of smallpox in monkeys are mild, but someone who is immunosuppressed may have more severe symptoms. As of Friday, Health Canada had confirmed that there were 168 confirmed cases of smallpox in monkeys across the country. The majority – 141 cases – were in Quebec. Last week, Quebec confirmed that 40,000 doses of the vaccine were available to help slow the spread of the virus. Montreal’s director of public health, Dr Mylène Drouin, said the city had become the epicenter of the North American epidemic. Pimou Bogna said Sudbury’s health unit did not yet have the vaccine in stock. However, he said Public Health Sudbury and Districts could order the vaccine from the Ontario Department of Health if needed. The virus can be spread through respiratory droplets between close contacts, but is less contagious than COVID-19. Pimou Bogna said anyone who may have been exposed to the virus should keep a natural distance from others, wear a mask, wash their hands frequently and monitor themselves for symptoms.
