Ottawa (ANTARA) – Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam confirmed a total of 168 cases of monkeypox (monkeypox) in the country until Friday (17/6).
Speaking at a health press conference, Canada’s best doctor said that these confirmed cases had been reported nationwide, including two cases from British Columbia, four cases from Alberta, 21 cases from Ontario and 141 cases from Quebec.
“We are continuously monitoring and responding to the evolving monkeypox situation, including supporting a number of provinces and territories in their efforts to launch targeted vaccination campaigns,” Tam said, adding that they were also working to raise awareness about how the virus was transmitted.
According to him, among the cases for which information is available and have been reported to the Public Health Agency of Canada, all cases were men and aged between 20 and 69 years.
However, the risk of contracting the monkeypox virus is not exclusive to any group or environment. Anyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, can become infected and spread the virus if they come into close contact with someone who has monkeypox or objects they have used, such as personal items, towels or bed sheets, he said.
Monkeypox is a sylvatic zoonosis that can cause infection in humans and is usually found in forested parts of Central and West Africa.
The disease is caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the orthopoxvirus family, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Reporter: Xinhua
Editor: And Salim
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