Canada has announced the registration of its first two confirmed human cases of monkeypox, following a series of infections with this virus in Europe and the United States as well. The Public Health Agency of Canada stated, "The province of Quebec has been notified of the positive results for monkeypox tests from two samples received by the National Microbiology Laboratory. These are the first confirmed cases in Canada." Canadian authorities indicated that other suspected cases are under investigation in the French-speaking city of Montreal. The regional public health department in Montreal reported 17 suspected cases.
Monkeypox is a rare disease endemic to West Africa, and its symptoms typically include fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash on the hands and face. Additionally, the French Ministry of Health announced on Thursday the discovery of the first suspected case of monkeypox on French territory in the Paris/Île-de-France area, amid signs of the virus spreading globally.
The monkeypox virus causes fever and distinctive skin rashes, with lesions appearing on the skin. It is usually mild, but there are two main strains: one is the Congo strain, which is more severe with a fatality rate of up to 10%, and the West African strain with a mortality rate of about 1% of infections. Earlier on Thursday, health officials in Spain reported 7 cases of monkeypox, and Portugal raised its confirmed cases to 14 as the disease spreads in Europe, after previously being limited to Africa.
Officials stated that all reported cases in Spain so far concern men in Madrid. Antonio Zabatero from the regional health department revealed that health officials are currently testing 22 other suspected cases. Zabatero told the Spanish radio network Onda Cero that "more cases are likely to emerge in the coming days." Officials reported that all identified cases have been mild, and the infections seem to be linked to close contact between transmission chains. No details were provided regarding whether the men had traveled to Africa or if the cases were connected to others reported throughout Europe.
Portuguese authorities indicated on Thursday that all 14 confirmed cases in the country have been reported in the area surrounding the capital Lisbon. Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases in the UK has risen to nine. The UK Health Security Agency stated on Wednesday that the latest cases reported this week were "mostly among men who have sex with men or bisexual men," although it noted that it remains unclear how people became infected.
In Rome, the Lazzaro Spallanzani Hospital confirmed on Thursday one case of monkeypox in a patient who recently traveled to the Spanish Canary Islands. The Swedish Public Health Agency also reported one case on Thursday, stating that it is still unclear how the patient became infected.
Monkeypox transmission has not been documented through sexual contact, but it can spread through close contact with infected individuals, their clothing, or bed linens. The state of Massachusetts in the United States reported on Wednesday one case of monkeypox in a man who recently traveled to Canada, prompting officials to investigate potential connections to the outbreak in Europe.
