First case of monkeypox in a woman in Ontario

TORONTO — Public Health Ontario has recorded the first-ever case of monkeypox in a woman in this province.

The agency had 156 confirmed cases of the disease in Ontario as of July 11, but all but one of those cases were in men. The average age of confirmed cases, which are mostly reported in Toronto, is 37.

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health recently said that this “monkey pox” is likely to be present for “many months”, due to its long incubation period. But Dr. Kieran Moore also pointed out that Ontario is not experiencing rapid growth of this virus.

Public health officials say most cases are in men who have had intimate contact with another man, but they repeat that anyone can get monkeypox.

The virus usually does not spread easily. It is transmitted by prolonged close contact via respiratory droplets, direct contact with broken skin or bodily fluids, or through contaminated clothing or bedding.

–