African Zoonotic Mysterious Global Spread

"We are not facing a new disease that is akin to the coronavirus."

"We are not in a situation where very strong and widespread contagion will happen very quickly, but it remains serious and we have to contain it as quickly as possible."

"[We do not think it necessary to single out locations over fears of] stigmatization, [there are now measures in place]."

"The enemy is the virus, not the people affected."

Dr.Luc Boileau, interim public health director, Quebec

"Data have shown that if you give it [smallpox vaccine] within four days, you have a very good effectiveness in preventing the illness."

"If you administer it between Day 5 and 14, it might not prevent disease, but it might modify the evolution."

Dr.Caroline Quach, chair, immunization committee, Quebec

Electron microscope image   AP

 

Quebec is set to act in light of its thus-far having identified 25 cases of monkeypox virus in the Montreal area. The province has been provided with smallpox vaccine doses, Imvamune, from the federal government. Its decision is to meet the new challenge of yet another exotic virus by taking swift action on contagion prevention, planning to administer the vaccine to people beginning today, Friday. In addition to the 25 confirmed cases, another thirty suspected cases are under investigation.

The outbreak is considered to be serious, but the disease is considerably less transmissible than COVID-19 and the province hopes to eradicate the monkeypox virus in the province by an expeditious response to its presence. Officials plan to see that doses of Imvamune are administered to people who have experienced close contact with those infected, or who live with people who have assumed cases of the disease. Those who have active cases of monkeypox, on the other hand, will not be inoculated with the vaccine, since by then it would be too late to have an effect.

The vaccine Imvamune was approved in 2020 for the prevention of smallpox, along with other viruses that fall into the orthopox category and has been demonstrably effective in preventing monkeypox in animal studies. Ideally it should be given within four days of exposure, but it could still be administered up to two weeks following any exposure. According to Dr. Boileau, most monkeypox cases in the province have befallen adult men who had close sexual contact with other men who have the disease. One case was identified in a person under 18 years of age.

The symptoms primarily consist of skin lesions on the mouth and genitals. Fever and headaches as well as joint and muscle pain can also be present. Dr. Boileau advised that people who have suspected cases, along with anyone living with them, should isolate themselves. They should wear masks, cover their lesions and take care not to share clothing, bedding or eating utensils with others to avoid transmissibility. 

Direct contact with lesions represents the primary method of spread, although the virus can be transmitted as well by respiratory droplets. The Public Health Agency of Canada revealed that all confirmed cases of monkeypox in the country were detected in Quebec, to the present. Toronto public health authorities are investigating four suspected cases of the disease, including one linked to Montreal.

According to social media, Sauna G.I. Joe had hosted a sex party on May19, the very day that Canada confirmed its first case of monkeypox.