The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has confirmed a case of monkeypox in a person from the region, but who lives and works mainly in Toronto.
The man is now isolated and his close contacts have been notified.
This would be the first confirmed case of the disease in the region.
Dr. Colin Lee, associate medical officer of health for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, said the risk for the general population is low and people should not be concerned to go about their daily activities.
"We have not detected the virus circulating in Simcoe Muskoka, and it does not spread easily," said Lee in a news release from the health unit.
According to Public Health Ontario, as of June 27, 2022, there are 67 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Ontario, and 54 of them were reported by Toronto Public Health.
According to information provided by the health unit, monkeypox is rare and spreads through close contact with a person infected with the virus, or their clothing or linens. It can enter the body through skin-to-skin contact with body fluids (for example saliva, lesions, blisters, or rashes) and through the mucus membranes or respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact (which can include breathing, talking, and coughing).
Public Health Ontario states the risk is higher for those engaging in sexual or intimate contact with a new and/or more than one partner, and/or people who are immunocompromised.Travel can also increase one's risk.
Symptoms tend to develop three weeks after exposure and can last between two and four weeks. Symptoms can include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, headache, muscle, joint, and back pain, and exhaustion. A rash lasting between two and three weeks may also appear on the face, extremities, hands, feet, mouth, and genitals. The rash later forms scabs.
Those infected with the disease must isolate until all scabs have fallen off and healed. According to the health unit, this takes between two and four weeks.
Vaccination is available for high-risk contacts of cases to prevent infection. Toronto Public Health is hosting monkeypox vaccination clinics, and the information is available on their website here.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit stated in its news release that monkeypox is usually a mild illness and the treatment is focused on alleviating symptoms. Generally, most people recover on their own after a few weeks, according to the health unit.
For more information about monkeypox, or any other questions about public health, you can call the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit's health connection line at 705-721-7520 on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. You can also visit the local health unit website here.
