Toronto Public Health is urging residents at risk of contracting mpox to get vaccinated “as soon as possible” after four new cases of viral illness were reported within 24 hours last week.
The cluster of new cases reported on 27 January comes after months of no new infections in Toronto.
Actually recent report No new cases of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, were reported in the province between the end of October and December 13, according to a survey released by the Ontario Public Health Department.
Ontario Public Health has stopped routine reporting, citing a “steady decline in mpox cases.”
Dane Griffiths, director of the Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance, said: “After a period of no reported cases of MPOX in Ontario, we are concerned about four new cases a day.” Last summer, our community was mobilized, received its first vaccinations, and slowed the spread of MPOX, especially before traveling this winter, finishing what we started and doing it for the second time. get vaccinated against.”
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kieran Moore, previously said mpox activity peaked in the province in July and has been trending downward.
However, in response to its release, Toronto Public Health noted that “the virus continues to circulate.”
To be eligible to be vaccinated in Ontario, a resident must be transgender, part of the LGBTQ2S+ community, or a man who has sex with other men, and meet certain other criteria.
The Toronto Department of Public Health said in a news release that MPOX can infect anyone, but that the current outbreak “is most affecting gays, bisexuals, and other men who have sex with men.” I’m here.
Of the 691 cases detected in Ontario so far, all but six were male, according to the latest statistics.
Speaking to CP24 Thursday morning, infectious disease expert Dr. Isaac Bogoch said the recent cluster of cases in Toronto is not a major cause for concern, but should be a reminder that “mxpox is not gone.” said it was.
“You would expect to see cases from time to time, but it’s remarkable that after such a long period of time there have been so few cases that four have occurred,” he said. If people are eligible to be vaccinated, it is very important that they receive the mpox vaccine and that it includes a second dose. The second dose did not provide the same level of intake.”
Symptoms most commonly reported after mpox infection include rash, oral/genital lesions, swollen lymph nodes, headache, fever, chills, and fatigue.
So far, only 20 cases have resulted in hospitalization in Ontario. Two of his cases resulted in individuals requiring intensive care unit care.
