Monkeypox in B.C.? 'Couple' cases looked into, but still no confirmation of the disease
Hours after the country's top doctor suggested there could be a "couple" of cases of monkeypox in British Columbia, provincial officials said it’s been determined those people do not have the disease.
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control said Friday afternoon that there were two reported cases that could have been the disease, but that public health officials interviewed those people.
It was determined that they were not considered contacts of known cases and had not been exposed.
"No suspect cases or contacts of monkeypox are under investigation in B.C. at this time," the BCCDC said in a statement.
"B.C. continues to work closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada and public health will follow up with anyone thought to be exposed to monkeypox."
The news came hours after Canada's top doctor, Dr. Theresa Tam, said in a news conference that officials are investigating what could be the disease in a couple of people who live in the province.
"Right now I would say just under a couple of dozen people under investigation by local authorities mainly in Quebec but a couple of contacts being followed up in British Columbia as well, but only two cases confirmed (in the country)," she said.
"There are samples under processing at the National Microbiology Lab as we speak so we might expect to hear more confirmations in the upcoming hours and days. "
She said local authorities are doing contact tracing, so right now, they don't know the extent of the spread in Canada.
"So far we do know that not many of these individuals are connected to travel to Africa, where the disease is normally seen. So this is unusual," she said.
WHAT IS MONKEYPOX?
Monkeypox was discovered in the late 1950s, and is a disease caused by a similar virus as the one that causes smallpox.
Symptoms are similar as well, including fever, chills, exhaustion, and head, muscle and back ache. Unlike smallpox, it can also cause lymph node swelling, and it's considered to be more mild.
Later, those who've been infected get a rash and raised bumps filled with fluid. Those bumps turn to scabs over time and fall off.
Anyone who has developed signs or symptoms, including these blisters, should get advice from their doctor.
The name comes from its discovery – it was first found in colonies of monkeys that were being used for research.
A number of countries including the U.S. and U.K. are experiencing an outbreak of the disease, which is more commonly found in central and western Africa.
"It's unusual for the world to see this many cases reported in different countries outside of Africa," Tam said Friday.
Health officials say the virus is transmitted through close contact with an infected person, and while it's generally transmitted through large respiratory droplets, Tam said Friday it may even be transmitted through contaminated clothing.
Read more about its history on CTVNews.ca.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Alyse Kotyk and CTV News' Solarina Ho
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it’s too late
She was lying in bed on a Thursday morning, thinking about the man she loved, hoping to win his freedom before time ran out.