Canada confirmed 681 cases of monkeypox in five provinces on Saturday, as the World Health Organization (WHO) deemed the global outbreak of the virus a public health emergency of international concern.
Cases are expected to continue to rise, according to a statement from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
Read more: WHO declares monkeypox a global health emergency
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“PHAC continues to work closely with international, provincial and territorial health partners to gather information on this evolving outbreak and to assess the potential risk of exposure to monkeypox virus in Canada,” the statement said.
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“Canada will continue to work with WHO and international partners to strengthen the global response to the current monkeypox outbreak.”
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WHO declares monkeypox a global health emergency
Since the beginning of the month in Canada, there has been a doubling of cases so far, the first case in a woman and the first cases in Saskatchewan.
To date, the federal government has distributed more than 70,000 doses of Imvamune, a vaccine approved by Health Canada for monkeypox immunization, to provinces and territories.
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According to PHAC, avoiding close physical contact with someone who is infected or has been exposed to the virus, maintaining good hand hygiene and cleaning high-touch surfaces are other ways to help reduce the risk of becoming infected.
In addition, PHAC has advised Canadians to practice safe sex and use a condom while they continue to learn about the virus.
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“Having fewer sexual partners, especially anonymous partners, even when they are asymptomatic, may also reduce the risk of becoming infected,” they said.
Read more: Ottawa to donate $1 million to reach communities affected by monkeypox
On July 21, the government also announced that it will provide funding to community organizations in places hardest hit by the virus.
“As the monkeypox outbreak evolves, the Government of Canada will continue to work with Canadian provinces and territories to determine the best courses of action to limit the spread of monkeypox in Canada,” they said.
“PHAC will continue to provide regular public updates as new information becomes available.”
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