| 2022–2023 mpox outbreak in Canada | |
|---|---|
.svg) Spread of disease as of September 2, 2022 | |
| Disease | Mpox |
| Virus strain | Monkeypox virus (West African clade) |
| Location | Canada |
| Index case | Montreal, Quebec (first suspected May 12, 2022) |
| Arrival date | May 19, 2022(3 years, 1 month, 3 weeks and 4 days ago) |
| Confirmed cases | 1,460 |
| Hospitalized cases | 44 |
Deaths | 0 |
| Government website | |
| Government of Canada | |
The2022–2023 mpox outbreak in Canada is a part of theoutbreak ofhuman mpox caused by the West African clade of themonkeypox virus. The outbreak started inCanada on May 19, 2022, with the country since then becoming one of the most affected in theAmericas.
Mpox (/ˈɛmpɒks/,EM-poks; formerly known as monkeypox)[1] is an infectiousviral disease that can occur in humans and other animals. Symptoms include arash that formsblisters and then crusts over, fever, andswollen lymph nodes. The illness is usually mild, and most infected individuals recover within a few weeks without treatment. The time fromexposure to the onset of symptoms ranges from three to seventeen days, and symptoms typically last from two to four weeks. However, cases may be severe, especially in children, pregnant women, or people withsuppressed immune systems.[2][3][4]
The disease is caused by themonkeypox virus, azoonotic virus in the genusOrthopoxvirus. Thevariola virus, which causessmallpox, is also in this genus.[3] Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with infected skin or body fluids, including sexual contact.[3] People remain infectious from the onset of symptoms until all the lesions have scabbed and healed.[2] The virus may spread from infected animals through handling infected meat or via bites or scratches.[2] Diagnosis can be confirmed bypolymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing a lesion for the virus'sDNA.[3]
Vaccination is recommended for those at high risk of infection.[3] No vaccine has been developed specifically against mpox, but smallpox vaccines have been found to be effective.[5] There is no specific treatment for the disease, so the aim of treatment is to manage the symptoms and prevent complications.[3][6] Antiviral drugs such astecovirimat can be used to treat mpox,[3] although their effectiveness has not been proven.[7]An ongoingoutbreak ofmpox was confirmed on May 6, 2022, beginning with aBritish resident who, after travelling toNigeria (where the disease isendemic), presented symptoms consistent with mpox on April 29, 2022. The resident returned to the United Kingdom on May 4, creating the country'sindex case of the outbreak.[8] The origin of several of the cases of mpox in the United Kingdom is unknown. Some monitors sawcommunity transmission taking place in theLondon area as of mid-May,[9] but it has been suggested that cases were already spreading in Europe in the previous months.[10]
A large portion of those infected were believed to have not recently traveled to areas of Africa where mpox is normally found, such asNigeria, theDemocratic Republic of the Congo as well ascentral andwestern Africa. It is believed to be transmitted by close contact with sick people, with extra caution for those individuals withlesions on their skin or genitals, along with their bedding and clothing. The CDC has also stated that individuals should avoid contact and consumption of dead animals such as rats, squirrels, monkeys and apes along with wild game or lotions derived from animals in Africa.[11]
Symptoms such as fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes or lesions are fairly common. Additionally some patients also have presented withproctitis.The Public Health Agency of Canada has noted that person to person transmission of mpox is possible from direct contact with bodily fluids including sexual contact.[12]
Date | Cases (rise) | Deaths (rise) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-05-19 | 2(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-05-24 | 15(n.a.) | |||
| 2022-05-25 | 16(+1) | |||
| 2022-05-26 | 26(+10) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-06-02 | 58(n.a.) | |||
| 2022-06-03 | 80(+22) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-06-06 | 81(n.a.) | |||
| 2022-06-07 | ||||
| 2022-06-08 | 101(n.a.) | |||
| 2022-06-09 | ||||
| 2022-06-10 | 115(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-06-13 | 122(n.a.) | |||
| 2022-06-14 | ||||
| 2022-06-15 | 159(n.a.) | |||
| 2022-06-16 | ||||
| 2022-06-17 | 177(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-06-21 | 210(n.a.) | |||
| 2022-06-22 | ||||
| 2022-06-23 | 223(n.a.) | |||
| 2022-06-24 | 235(+12) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-06-27 | 275(n.a.) | |||
| 2022-06-28 | ||||
| 2022-06-29 | 278(n.a.) | |||
| 2022-06-30 | 278(=) | |||
| 2022-07-01 | 278(=) | |||
| 2022-07-02 | 287(+9) | |||
| 2022-07-03 | 298(+11) | |||
| 2022-07-04 | 300(+2) | |||
| 2022-07-05 | 300(=) | |||
| 2022-07-06 | 300(=) | |||
| 2022-07-07 | 358(+58) | |||
| 2022-07-08 | 375(+17) | |||
| 2022-07-09 | 378(+3) | |||
| 2022-07-10 | 378(=) | |||
| 2022-07-11 | 477(+99) | |||
| 2022-07-12 | 477(=) | |||
| 2022-07-13 | 493(+16) | |||
| 2022-07-14 | 530(+37) | |||
| 2022-07-15 | 538(+8) | |||
| 2022-07-16 | 538(=) | |||
| 2022-07-17 | 538(=) | |||
| 2022-07-18 | 575(+37) | |||
| 2022-07-19 | 604(+29) | |||
| 2022-07-20 | 604(=) | |||
| 2022-07-21 | 604(=) | |||
| 2022-07-22 | 745(+141) | |||
| 2022-07-23 | 745(=) | |||
| 2022-07-24 | 745(=) | |||
| 2022-07-25 | 745(=) | |||
| 2022-07-26 | 745(=) | |||
| 2022-07-27 | 745(=) | |||
| 2022-07-28 | 745(=) | |||
| 2022-07-29 | 803(+58) | |||
| 2022-07-30 | 803(=) | |||
| 2022-07-31 | 803(=) | |||
| 2022-08-01 | 803(=) | |||
| 2022-08-02 | 803(=) | |||
| 2022-08-03 | 803(=) | |||
| 2022-08-04 | 803(=) | |||
| 2022-08-05 | 957(+154) | |||
| 2022-08-06 | 957(=) | |||
| 2022-08-07 | 957(=) | |||
| 2022-08-08 | 957(=) | |||
| 2022-08-09 | 957(=) | |||
| 2022-08-10 | 1,008(+51) | |||
| 2022-08-11 | 1,008(=) | |||
| 2022-08-12 | 1,059(+51) | |||
| 2022-08-13 | 1,059(=) | |||
| 2022-08-14 | 1,059(=) | |||
| 2022-08-15 | 1,059(=) | |||
| 2022-08-16 | 1,059(=) | |||
| 2022-08-17 | 1,112(+53) | |||
| 2022-08-18 | 1,112(=) | |||
| 2022-08-19 | 1,168(+56) | |||
| 2022-08-20 | 1,168(=) | |||
| 2022-08-21 | 1,168(=) | |||
| 2022-08-22 | 1,168(=) | |||
| 2022-08-23 | 1,168(=) | |||
| 2022-08-24 | 1,206(+38) | |||
| 2022-08-25 | 1,206(=) | |||
| 2022-08-26 | 1,228(+22) | |||
| 2022-08-27 | 1,228(=) | |||
| 2022-08-28 | 1,228(=) | |||
| 2022-08-29 | 1,228(=) | |||
| 2022-08-30 | 1,228(=) | |||
| 2022-08-31 | 1,289(+61) | |||
| 2022-09-01 | 1,289(=) | |||
| 2022-09-02 | 1,289(=) | |||
| 2022-09-03 | 1,289(=) | |||
| 2022-09-04 | 1,289(=) | |||
| 2022-09-05 | 1,289(=) | |||
| 2022-09-06 | 1,289(=) | |||
| 2022-09-07 | 1,317(+28) | |||
| 2022-09-08 | ||||
| 2022-09-09 | 1,321(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-09-14 | 1,338(n.a.) | |||
| 2022-09-15 | ||||
| 2022-09-16 | 1,363(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-09-21 | 1,379(n.a.) | |||
| 2022-09-22 | ||||
| 2022-09-23 | 1,389(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-09-28 | 1,396(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-10-03 | 1,400(n.a.) | |||
| 2022-10-04 | ||||
| 2022-10-05 | 1,406(n.a.) | |||
| 2022-10-06 | ||||
| 2022-10-07 | 1,411(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-10-12 | 1,411(n.a.) | |||
| 2022-10-13 | ||||
| 2022-10-14 | 1,410(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-10-21 | 1,436(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-10-28 | 1,435(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-11-04 | 1,444(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-11-14 | 1,445(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-11-18 | 1,449(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-11-25 | 1,456(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-12-02 | 1,459(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-12-09 | 1,459(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-12-16 | 1,459(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2022-12-23 | 1,460(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2023-01-06 | 1,460(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2023-01-20 | 1,460(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2023-02-03 | 1,460(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2023-02-17 | 1,460(n.a.) | |||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2023-03-04 | 1,460(n.a.) | |||
On May 18, theUnited States confirmed its first 2022 case of mpox andCanada reported 13 suspected cases.[13] On May 19, the first confirmed case of mpox was reported inToronto.[14]On May 27, 500 people inMontreal,Quebec, received smallpox vaccinations. By July 6, 800 Montrealers had lined up at the clinic in the center of theGay Village that was offering the initial vaccination.[15][16]
Canada currently has the 8th most mpox cases.[17]
| Province or territory | Cases |
|---|---|
 Nova Scotia | 1[18] |
 New Brunswick | 1[18] |
 Manitoba | 1[18] |
 Yukon | 2[18] |
 Saskatchewan | 6[18] |
 Alberta | 43[18] |
 British Columbia | 190[18] |
 Quebec | 525[18] |
 Ontario | 691[18] |
| Total cases | 1,460[18] |
| As of March 3, 2022, at 12:00 PM EDT | |
This was the first time in history thatmpox was inCanada.[19]
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