Vancouver Coastal Health is opening more clinics to offer smallpox vaccines.
The health authority said that while the number of smallpox cases in BC remains low, limited community transmission has been identified in Vancouver.
All cases reported so far in BC are among men who have sex with other men, Vancouver Coastal Health said Monday, but anyone with close and prolonged contact with a person who has monkeypox may be at risk for infection.
Vaccinations are offered to those over the age of 18 who are transgender or belong to the LGBTQ2 community and who meet additional high-risk criteria.
Vancouver Coastal Health said the vaccine is not recommended for the general public.
5:08 What is monkeypox and how is it transmitted? What is monkeypox and how is it transmitted? – May 20, 2022
Read more: First case of smallpox reported in Vancouver Island, with a total of 21 in BC
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Last week, Island Health reported its first case of monkeypox, which raised the total number of cases in British Columbia to 21.
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All other cases of monkeypox in BC are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region.
The monkeypox virus does not spread easily from person to person, Coastal Health said. All identified local transmission has involved prolonged skin-to-skin contact, which is suspected to be the main form of virus spread.
Symptoms mainly include skin lesions in the mouth and genitals, and can also include fever, headaches, and joint and muscle aches, according to the World Health Organization. They usually appear one or two weeks after exposure, but can take between five and 21 days.
People are considered to be infected from the time symptoms first appear to the point where the sores peel off and dry new skin is visible, according to the BC Center for Disease Control.
Most patients have mild symptoms and do not require medical intervention, he added.
4:51 A case of monkeypox in BC confirmed A case of monkeypox confirmed in BC – June 7, 2022
Vancouver Coastal Health said anyone vaccinated should continue to be cautious and take steps to protect themselves and others, especially if they have symptoms.
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You can find information on monkeypox clinics and book an appointment at Vancouver Coastal Health on their website.
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