The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) announced today that it is reporting the first identified case of monkeypox in the region. Through their work, Health Unit staff members have determined that the person diagnosed with the illness has no close contacts who require post-exposure prophylaxis for monkeypox or additional follow-up from public health.

“The person is doing well. While we are reporting this first local case of monkeypox, the risk to the community remains very low,” says Dr. Alex Summers, Medical Officer of Health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit.

The Health Unit has been sharing information about monkeypox with healthcare providers across the region since cases were first reported in Canada on May 19th, after additional cases were identified in Europe and the United States. MLHU has asked healthcare providers to inform them if they suspect a patient shows signs and symptoms consistent with monkeypox.

Monkeypox is a viral illness, which is endemic in parts of central and western Africa. It can be spread to people through direct contact with the bodily fluids or lesions of infected people or animals, as well as from contaminated clothing or bedding and through respiratory droplets following prolonged exposure to an infected person. Symptoms include fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and lethargy, followed by the development of a rash (pox lesions). The rash can appear on the face and extremities a few days after symptoms begin and can spread to other parts of the body. A person is considered infectious from five days before the onset of their rash until their lesions have crusted over, and the scabs have dried up and fallen off.

There is no specific treatment for monkeypox virus infection, although antivirals developed for use against smallpox and post-exposure vaccination with the smallpox vaccine may help. Evidence shows that prior vaccination against smallpox provides cross-protection against monkeypox.

The Health Unit will continue to monitor the situation closely and will continue to work with local healthcare providers to identify any other potential cases. For more information about monkeypox, visit the Ministry of Health’s website.

Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit
(519) 617-0570 (cell)

Spokesperson:
Dr. Alex Summers, Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit