NEWS RELEASE GRAY BRUCE HEALTH UNIT ************************ The Gray Bruce Health Unit reports the first laboratory-confirmed case of monkeypox in the region . The person diagnosed with the disease lives in Grey-Bruce, but likely acquired the infection while visiting the greater Toronto area. The person is currently in isolation at home. Health facility staff have determined that the person had only one close contact in the area and are monitoring that person. “Public Health would like to emphasize that although a case of monkeypox has been confirmed in Grey-Bruce, the risk to the community remains very low,” says Grey-Bruce Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Ian Arra. “Only people who have had close, direct contact with a person with monkeypox are at risk of acquiring the infection. This is not an easily spread virus. Anyone experiencing symptoms is advised to self-isolate at home and contact their healthcare provider immediately.” Human monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease which, historically, has rarely been reported outside of Africa. However, the virus has been confirmed in more than two dozen countries, including Canada, during the current multi-country monkeypox outbreak. The virus was first reported in Canada on May 19, 2022. As of July 6, Canadian provinces and territories have publicly reported a total of 358 cases, according to Public Health Canada. Just over 100 of these cases have been reported in Ontario. Monkeypox infections are usually mild, with most people recovering on their own in two to four weeks. However, the virus can cause serious illness and death in some people. Symptoms of monkeypox, which usually develop five to 21 days after exposure, appear in two stages. Stage 1 symptoms may include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, and lethargy. A rash or lesions develop in the second stage, usually within one to three days after the fever starts. The rash usually starts on the face before spreading to other parts of the body. Monkey pox can be spread from person to person through close contact with bodily fluids or skin lesions of an infected person. It can also be spread when a person comes into contact with contaminated clothing or bedding. A person is considered infectious from the onset of symptoms until the rash/lesions have crusted over and the crusts have dried and fallen off. All people with symptoms are advised to self-isolate at home. Anyone diagnosed with monkeypox should be isolated until all scabs fall off and heal. The Gray Bruce Health Unit continues to monitor the monkeypox situation closely. More information is available at publichealthontario.ca.
