The updated figures, released on Wednesday, show 31 confirmed cases and one possible case in the nation’s capital, up from 23 confirmed cases last week. Ottawa’s health unit has the second highest number of confirmed monkeypox cases in the province behind Toronto. Provincial officials say there are a total of 423 confirmed cases of smallpox in the province, up from 326 last week. Of these, 329 are reported by Toronto Public Health. All but two of the confirmed cases in the province are in men. No new hospitalizations linked to monkeypox were reported in Ontario in the past week. To date, Public Health Ontario has confirmed 11 hospitalizations and 2 intensive care admissions for monkeypox since May 20. The World Health Organization has declared the spread of the virus a global emergency. Public Health Ontario identifies sexual or intimate contact (eg hugging, kissing, cuddling) with young and/or multiple partners as one of the most common risk factors for monkeypox in the province. However, officials stress that while most cases identified have affected men who have sex with men, anyone can get monkeypox. Symptoms of monkeypox include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, headache, exhaustion, and a rash that often appears on the face and extremities a few days after symptoms begin. The virus can be spread to another person through contact with exposed skin, the respiratory tract, or the eyes, nose, or mouth. From June 20 to August 2, Ottawa Public Health has administered 1,757 monkeypox vaccines. More details about who is eligible for monkeypox vaccine and where to get it can be found on the OPH website.
