Hamilton Public Health (HPH) has its first reported case of monkeypox virus, according to the city’s official health doctor.
Authorities say the infected person is being isolated at home and all contacts have been notified by the health unit.
The resident is believed to have most likely become infected during a recent visit to Toronto.
“Right now, the risk to the general public remains very low, as we have not detected the virus circulating in Hamilton and the virus does not spread easily,” Dr. Elizabeth Richardson said in a statement on Monday.
Read more: Monkeypox cases in Europe have tripled in the last two weeks, says WHO
“Hamiltonians shouldn’t have to worry about their routine daily activities.”
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As of the end of last week, more than 5,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported in 51 countries around the world that do not normally report the disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The number of infections in Europe represents around 90% of the world total, with 31 countries in the WHO European region having identified cases.
Monkeypox, a viral disease that causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, has become widespread in men who have sex with men outside of countries where it is common.
2:46 WHO director calls for more tests, more access to vaccines and antivirals to fight monkeypox Previous video Next video
On Wednesday, 276 cases of monkeypox were reported in Canada, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
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Four cases have been identified in British Columbia, five in Alberta, 67 in Ontario and 202 in Quebec.
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The head of Europe at the World Health Organization warned on Friday that cases of smallpox in the region have tripled in the past two weeks and urged countries to do more to ensure that the previously rare disease do not settle on the mainland.
African health authorities said they are treating the spread of the monkeypox outbreak as an emergency, urging rich countries to share limited supplies of vaccines to avoid the equity problems seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more: Quebec now has 211 confirmed cases of monkeypox as vaccine increases
The head of WHO in Europe, Dr Hans Kluge, said in a statement that efforts needed to be stepped up despite the UN health agency’s decision last week that the escalation of the outbreak did not yet justify a global health emergency was declared.
“Urgent and coordinated action is essential if we are to turn a corner in the race to reverse the spread of this disease,” Kluge said.
Hamilton’s public health services on Thursday hosted an emerging smallpox vaccination clinic for at-risk community members by appointment only.
More than 60 doses of the monkeypox vaccine were given to at-risk community members over the age of 18.
The city has not confirmed whether any future clinics will be provided.
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– with archives of The Associated Press
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