Health officials in Kingston say the risk to the general public is low following the region’s first confirmed case of monkeypox.
The Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington public health department released few details about the first laboratory-confirmed case of monkeypox, saying only that contact tracing efforts have ended and health officials are tracking the individual.
“The monkeypox virus has been circulating in the province for several months and we expected it to arrive in the KFL&A region. There is no increased risk of monkeypox for KFL&A residents arising from this case,” Medical Officer of Health Dr. Piotr Oglaza said.
“In general, monkeypox does not spread easily between people. KFLA residents need not worry about going about their daily activities in the community. We recommend that people be aware of the symptoms and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms occur.”
Symptoms of monkeypox can appear within five to 21 days after contact with someone who has the virus.
Symptoms may include:
- A rash or blister in the mouth and around the genital areas
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Fever and chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Exhaustion
There are 11 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Ottawa.
Add Comment