Public Health Ontario reports 101 confirmed cases of smallpox, up from 33 two weeks ago

The report says there are 85 cases in Toronto, with more than one case each in health units covering Ottawa, the Halton region and Middlesex-London.

Public Health Ontario reports 101 confirmed cases of monkeypox across the province, compared to 33 cases two weeks ago.

A summary report on the disease through July 4 says there are also eight likely cases in Ontario.

The report says there are 85 cases in Toronto, with more than one case each in health units covering Ottawa, the Halton region and Middlesex-London.

Health units in Hamilton, Durham Region, Eastern Ontario, Haldimand-Norfolk, Peel Region, Peterborough, Simcoe-Muskoka and Guelph also confirmed unique cases.

All reported cases are found in men between the ages of 20 and 65 and common symptoms include rash, oral and genital lesions, swollen lymph nodes, headache, fever, chills, myalgia and fatigue.

Public health says most cases are among men who report intimate contact with men, but says anyone can suffer from monkeypox.

Monkeypox is generally not easily transmitted between people and is transmitted by prolonged close contact through respiratory droplets, direct contact with skin lesions or body fluids, or by contaminated clothing or bedding.

The disease comes from the same family of smallpox-causing viruses, which the World Health Organization declared eradicated worldwide in 1980.

Smallpox vaccines have been shown to be effective in fighting the smallpox virus.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 6, 2022.

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