Ontario chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore issued an order to health care workers requiring they report any cases of monkeypox to local authorities. .A copy of the order, which was issued under Section 77.6 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, was obtained by CP24 on Sunday. The order said health care workers have to provide Public Health Ontario with information on any patient that meets the “case definitions” of monkeypox. .This information will be used for investigations and contact tracing, said the order. .The Ontario Ministry of Health confirmed to CP24 the order was issued on Friday, one day before the first suspected case in Ontario was identified. .Toronto Public Health (TPH) officials are investigating Ontario’s first suspected case of monkeypox. .The case involves a male in his 40s who had contact with a person from Montreal. This patient is recovering in hospital, according to TPH. .TPH said the risk to the public is “very low” and that monkeypox is not easily spread between people. Monkeypox spreads through contact with bodily fluids from sores, contaminated clothes or bedding, or respiratory droplets. .Toronto associate medical officer of health Dr. Rita Shahin said signs and symptoms to watch for are fever, discomfort, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle aches. A few days later, people might start to see a rash forming on their faces and small red bumps filled with clear fluid. .“The risk is really low,” said Shahin. .“It’s not easily spread like COVID, which is reassuring, but we’re asking anyone who may have been exposed to just be on the lookout for any unusual lesions that they may have.”.The order said a suspected case is defined as a new onset rash, at least one sign or symptom of monkeypox, and an alternative diagnosis cannot explain the illness. .The order goes on to say a probable case is classified as a person who meets the criteria for a suspected case and has high-risk exposure to a probable or confirmed case of monkeypox, a history of travel to a region with confirmed cases, or relevant zoonotic exposure. .A case becomes confirmed when there is a laboratory test conducted, and monkeypox virus DNA is detected through a PCR test. .Anyone with symptoms is being asked to seek medical attention. .There were 17 suspected cases of monkeypox in Montreal as of Thursday. .The infections have not been confirmed. .Quebec health officials are examining possible monkeypox cases after US and European health officials confirmed rising case counts. Case counts have been going up in several countries and indicate a global outbreak might be coming.
