Monkeypox
Monkeypox is a viral disease that usually spreads from animals to humans, though the animals that spread it (such as certain rodents and monkeys) are not found in Canada. Monkeypox can also spread from person-to-person, mainly through direct physical contact with an infected person's:
- Scabs / skin lesions or bodily fluids
- Materials contaminated with the virus, such as bedding or clothes
Monkeypox can also spread through respiratory droplets. However, the virus does not spread efficiently this way.
Symptoms
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Muscle aches and pain
- Swollen lymph nodes, such as in the neck and groin
- Fatigue
- Rash that usually starts one to three days after the symptom onset. The rash can then turn into scabs and lesions.
Monkeypox is usually mild and typically goes away on its own within two to four weeks.
If you have been exposed to a suspected or confirmed case of monkeypox, monitor for signs and symptoms for 21 days. If you develop symptoms of monkeypox, immediately self-isolate and contact your healthcare provider.
Based on Public Health assessment, a single dose of the Imvamune vaccine may be recommended to people who have been identified by Public Health as a high-risk exposure of a probable or confirmed case of monkeypox, or within a setting where transmission is happening. Public Health will contact those individuals who have been identified as a high-risk exposure.
More information
For more detailed information on monkeypox, visit:
© Niagara Region - 1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, ON, L2V 4T7 - Phone: 905-980-6000, Toll-free: 1-800-263-7215
