Island Health says one case of monkeypox in a person living on the South Island has been confirmed through laboratory tests.
Public health teams are following up on the case, including managing contacts identified through contact tracing.
In a statement, Island Health said the public health team received confirmation of the case on Thursday but sent the notification to the public on Friday.
Island Health says the risk to the public is very low and the virus is spread through person-to-person contact.
Vaccinations are provided to high-risk contacts identified through Island Health contact tracing.
Symptoms can take between five to 21 days to appear, but usually appear within the first two weeks after exposure.
There are two stages of the disease. The first is flu-like symptoms, followed by a rash, usually with sores and blisters.
People are considered infectious from the time symptoms first appear until the sores are covered, dry, and new skin is visible.
“Most people with monkeypox have mild symptoms and do not need specific interventions,” Island Health said in a statement. “Treatment for monkeypox remains supportive and symptom-directed (eg, temperature control, maintenance of hydration, treatment of secondary infections).”
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