Ontario urges mpox testing amid spike in cases
CTV
Ontario health officials are urging public health units to test for mpox, the viral disease formerly known as monkeypox, amid a spike of confirmed cases in the province.
Ontario health officials are urging public health units to test for mpox, the viral disease formerly known as monkeypox, amid a spike of confirmed cases in the province.
According to a report released Tuesday, Ontario has seen 26 confirmed cases of mpox since mid-January.
In all of 2023 there were just 33 reported cases.
About 77 per cent of cases were identified by Toronto Public Health, while the remaining infections were identified in Ottawa, Peel and Halton.
Mpox is a viral illness that causes a rash or legions. Other symptoms include fever, chills, fatigue, swollen lymph notes, muscles aches, headache and sore throat.
Symptoms can appear between five and 21 days after exposure. It’s typically spread through direct close contact with an infected person, including intimate or sexual contact. It does not typically result in fatalities.
In 2022 the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency after hundreds of cases emerged globally.
