First Alberta monkeypox case confirmed: Hinshaw

Case is isolated, risk of transmission is low, chief medical officer says

The first case of monkeypox in Alberta has been confirmed, said the province's chief medical officer of health.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw described it in a Thursday afternoon thread of tweets on Twitter as being an isolated case in an adult and that risk of transmission was low.

She added the infected individual was self-isolating after coming into close contact with a known case outside of the province, but declined to give further details, citing privacy reasons.

“While the risk of infection is currently low to the general population, monkeypox can affect anyone in prolonged close contact with an infected person,” she wrote.

Monkeypox is a rare disease related to smallpox that was first found in African monkeys.

Symptoms are generally mild, but the virus can lead to fever, aches, swollen lymph nodes and a bumpy rash.

It's typically spread through close skin-on-skin contact or through respiratory droplets after prolonged exposure to an infected person.

“This virus does not discriminate and is not limited to spread from intimate sexual activities. This kind of misinformation and stigmatization can lead to misunderstanding of risks and negative health outcomes,” she tweeted.

Cases of the virus have risen worldwide in recent weeks, including in Canada, where 52 cases have been reported in Quebec and two in Toronto.

Hinshaw advised anyone who has been in close contact with someone infected with monkeypox or showing symptoms consistent with the virus to self-isolate and call 811 or a family doctor.