30 May 2022 | 01:48 PM UTC
North America: Monkeypox cases reported in Montreal, Toronto, and Quebec; additional US states report suspected cases during late May /update 2
Monkeypox cases reported in Canada and new areas of the US during late May. Maintain basic health precautions.
Event
Public health officials report cases of monkeypox in certain areas of Canada and the US in late May; ongoing disease transmission within these countries has been confirmed.
According to data through May 29, Canadian authorities report 63 suspected cases in Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec, including 26 confirmed cases. The US reported 14 confirmed cases in New York City, Boston, Mass., Broward County, Fla., Salt Lake County, Utah, California, Colorado, and Virginia. This represents the most updated information as of May 30.
Additional cases and new locations within these countries will likely be identified in the coming weeks as disease surveillance and contact tracing continue.
Context
Many of the cases in this widespread outbreak report attending one or more recent mass gatherings in Antwerp, Madrid, and Gran Canaria, Spain, or reported recent close contact with an attendee; mass gatherings always present an elevated infectious disease risk. Monkeypox transmission can occur among people in close physical contact, with clusters of these cases reported among men having sex with men (MSM). The current outbreak highlights the importance of vigilant safe sexual practices and suggests monkeypox can be sexually transmitted while the infected person displays few or no symptoms; however, the risk is currently assessed as low for individuals not routinely engaging with multiple or anonymous sexual partners.
Monkeypox does not naturally occur in North America; most cases are reported in West and Central Africa, primarily in the DRC, Nigeria, and Cameroon, among individuals who report contact with wild primates or other mammals that may harbor the disease.
Monkeypox is caused by a virus that belongs to the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. However, monkeypox is not the same as smallpox, and it does not have the same capacity for rapid human-to-human transmission. Monkeypox is mainly transmitted to humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected rodents or primates. Human-to-human transmission primarily occurs through close personal contact with an infected individual via respiratory droplets, direct contact with bodily fluids, or indirect contact with lesion material (e.g., contaminated clothing or bedding). Symptoms typically appear 6-16 days after exposure but can develop up to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms generally include fever, headache, muscle aches and backaches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a distinctive rash characterized by lesions that progress through several stages before falling off.
Advice
Practice basic health precautions, including frequent handwashing with soap and water, covering the nose and mouth when coughing, and avoiding obviously ill individuals. Avoid overcrowded areas, such as nightclubs, and consider exercising safe sexual practices, such as physical barriers (condoms) in countries reporting monkeypox transmission. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop within two weeks of being in affected areas, especially if you have had one or more new sexual partners.
