The number of confirmed cases of monkeypox has climbed to 90 in Quebec, the Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday.
This number is up from the 71 cases reported last week.
Monkeypox, also called monkeypox, is a rare disease that comes from the same family of viruses that cause smallpox, a disease that the World Health Organization declared “eradicated” worldwide in 1980.
Monkeypox does not usually spread easily between people. It is transmitted by prolonged close contact via respiratory droplets, direct contact with broken skin or bodily fluids, or through contaminated clothing or bedding.
Quebec began offering a smallpox vaccine at the end of May to certain people who have been in close contact with infected people. A total of 813 people have since been vaccinated, the health ministry says.
The vast majority of cases in Canada are in Quebec, while Canada has confirmed at least 97 cases of people infected with the virus.
Travel advisory
The Public Health Agency of Canada warns travelers to be extra careful abroad due to the potential threat of catching monkeypox.
The federal government has issued a ‘level two’ travel health notice to encourage people traveling outside the country to ‘take special health precautions’, such as using personal protective equipment and avoiding high risk activities.
The public health agency says travelers could find themselves subject to isolation or other measures to limit the spread of the virus.
The agency also warns that those leaving the country may have limited access to proper care if they fall ill and may face delays once they return home.
It’s rare to see outbreaks of monkeypox outside West and Central Africa, but cases have popped up in countries around the world in recent weeks.
The government travel advisory applies to nearly 30 countries, including the US, UK, Spain and Germany.