Toronto reports a second case of monkeypox in the city.
Toronto Public Health confirmed another case of the virus on Tuesday, leading to a total of two confirmed cases so far.
The city says it is currently investigating six other cases and nine possible cases are considered negative.
Toronto announced its first confirmed case last Thursday.
Monkeypox is a rare disease that was first identified in monkeys and is found mostly in Central and West Africa. Monkeypox is associated with smallpox, but has milder symptoms.
The virus has attracted worldwide attention in recent weeks as cases increase, especially in Europe, the United States, Israel and Australia.
The virus is usually spread by close human-to-human contact through respiratory droplets, direct contact with skin lesions or body fluids, or indirect contact through contaminated clothing or underwear.
On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the latest cases in the world are of gays, bisexuals or men who have sex with men.
It can also be transmitted from contact with infected animals through bites and scratches and by cooking wild game meat.
Symptoms include fever, rash or lesions on the face and body, headache and body aches.
Monkeypox is considered infectious five days before the onset of the rash and remains contagious until the lesions begin to heal and the scabs fall off.
Most people recover within two to four weeks and the infection is rarely fatal.
Health officials say the virus does not spread easily among humans and is not transmitted as much as COVID-19.
Anyone who has been exposed to monkeypox should be isolated immediately and seek medical attention.
-With files from the Associated Press
1/2: We continue to monitor the activity of #Monkeypox in TO. As of May 31, 2022 at 3 pm there are: 2 positive cases, 9 negative cases and 6 cases are under investigation for this virus. There is 1 new laboratory confirmed case since our last update.
– Public Health in Toronto (@TOPublicHealth) May 31, 2022
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