Someone living in Brant County has tested positive for monkeypox.
The Brant County Health Unit (BCHU) says it has received laboratory confirmation of the case and has been in contact with the resident to initiate case management to determine close contacts.
At this time, the BCHU said, the case is a low risk to the general public and it will continue to monitor the situation, providing updates to the community when they become available.
Monkeypox immunization clinics will be offered by BCHU soon, with more information on the dates and eligibility posted to its website.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms include:
- A fever.
- A headache.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- Low energy.
- Muscle aches.
- A skin rash, usually on the face, palms and soles, or lesions
The number of days between getting infected and getting symptoms is usually six to 13, but can be as long as three weeks.
The lesions, which can range from a few to thousands, can be flat or slightly raised with clear or yellowish fluid before crusting up and falling off like chickenpox.
Most people will only deal with mild symptoms, but children, and people who are pregnant or have immunodeficiencies, have a higher risk of getting worse symptoms.
The fatality rate of monkeypox is around one per cent, according to Hamilton public health.
How does monkeypox spread?
Monkeypox is caused by the virus that belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The genus also includes variola virus (which causes smallpox) and vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine).
Hamilton public health said the monkeypox virus doesn’t spread easily between people.
It can spread through close contact, including respiratory droplets in the air, skin-to-skin contact or if someone touches contaminated surfaces such as clothes or bedding.
Spread can also happen through bites or scratches from infected animals.
Close contacts should self-monitor for symptoms for 21 days after their most recent exposure.
A person can be contagious for five days before the onset of the rash and until new skin has formed over the cleared rash.
How do you treat it?
There are no treatments specifically for monkeypox virus infections. The symptoms go away on their own, in two weeks to a month.
People who have been exposed to monkeypox can get the smallpox vaccine Imvamune, which may prevent infection or lessen the severity of symptoms.
Last week, the city hosted a pop-up vaccine clinic for at-risk community members that was by appointment only. Over 60 doses were administered.
Hamilton public health said other ways to avoid getting infected include physical distancing, handwashing and wearing a mask.
