Quebec child thought to have monkeypox had chickenpox instead

Monkeypox continues to spread in Quebec, but no child has contracted it, contrary to what Public Health announced ten days ago. “We realized that there had been an error at the level of the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, explains the D^D Caroline Quach-Thanh, President of the Quebec Immunization Committee (CIQ). There are no pediatric cases. »

The D^D Quach-Thanh, microbiologist-infectiologist at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center (CHU), was alongside the acting national director of public health for Quebec, Dr.^r Luc Boileau, when he informed the media of an infection in a child, during his press briefing on May 26.

Joined by The duty, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) confirms “that the presumed minor case announced at the last press conference on the subject is now invalidated”. According to the D^D Quach-Thanh, the child finally suffered from chickenpox.

Cases of monkeypox are increasing in Quebec. According to the latest report available, the province has 71, including 67 in Montreal and a few in Montérégie. Men who have sex with other men remain the most affected.

Remember that monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection. It is transmitted between humans during close and prolonged contact with skin lesions, mucous membranes or respiratory secretions of an infected person.

The disease, which is manifested in particular by lesions, headaches, fever and great fatigue, resolves itself in two to four weeks in the majority of cases, according to the Regional Public Health Department of Montreal.

The D^D Cécile Tremblay, a microbiologist at the CHUM, believes that Quebec detected the infections “very early”. “From the moment there is the introduction of one or two cases in a given population, all the close contacts of these people risk being affected,” she said. It creates chains of transmission, which explains why the number is growing. She is not afraid of a wider spread. “There is no asymptomatic transmission,” she says.

Monkeypox is not as contagious as COVID-19. Its reproductive rate (R₀) is between 0.6 and 1, against 10 to 12 for the BA.2 variant, according to the D^D Quach-Thanh. The president of the CIQ nevertheless expects an increase in cases. “We have not necessarily finished limiting the transmission. »

5000 doses of vaccine

Vaccination against monkeypox began about a week ago in Montreal. The vaccine should ideally be administered within four days of the last exposure to an infected contact.

According to the Regional Public Health Department of Montreal, 516 people received the vaccine between May 30 and June 5, 2022. But “all these people do not necessarily reside in Montreal”, specifies its spokesperson, Jean-Nicolas Dawn.

Ottawa supplies Quebec with vaccines. “A first order for 1,000 doses of smallpox vaccine from the federal government has been authorized by the DNSP [directeur national de santé publique par intérim]as well as a second order for 4,000 additional doses for a total of 5,000 doses in Quebec,” reports MSSS spokesperson Robert Maranda.

As of Tuesday, the L’Actuel medical clinic in Montreal will receive doses of the vaccine, says its president and CEO and founder, Dr.^r Rejean Thomas. A nurse will carry out screening and vaccination. The vaccine will also be available “without an appointment”.

L’Actuel counts 19 cases in its clientele, including one in a heterosexual man, roommate of an infected person. “I have patients who have been to saunas,” says Dr.^r Thomas. I have several patients I have seen who do not frequent saunas. Some didn’t have that many sexual partners either. Some had no idea where they had contracted it. »

The D^r Thomas reports that gay men addicted to crystal meth (crystal meth) are more at risk of contracting the disease. “They have a lot of sex partners,” he says. Does the problem [actuelle] is related to this? It’s too early to tell. »

The doctor hopes that the nurses and doctors at his clinic will soon be able to receive the monkeypox vaccine. “I made the request twice for our staff to be vaccinated,” he said. Imagine if one of our nurses contracted the disease. First, we are short of staff. Second, it’s a lot of work when cases arrive. It delays the regular “walk-in”. »

The D^r Thomas does not want employees to be sick. In a June 3 update, Montreal Public Health reported three hospitalizations: “two related to the risk of airway obstruction, and one related to possible ophthalmic damage.”

The strain of monkeypox from West Africa, present in Quebec, causes death in only 1% of cases. “But it can leave scars on the skin, adds the D^D Tremblay. It is a disease that we do not want to let spread among the population. »

The D^D Quach-Thanh believes that it is absolutely necessary to curb the disease. “We really don’t want it falling into an animal reservoir,” she said. Because once it falls into an animal reservoir, we are never able to get rid of it again. In North America, our prairie dogs are susceptible to this and can become infected and pass it on. [le virus de la variole simienne]. »

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