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First Case of New Mpox Variant Detected in Canada

Sunday 24 November 2024 - 09:19

The Public Health Agency of Canada has reported the country's first case of infection with a new variant of the mpox virus.

The infected individual, a resident of Manitoba, contracted the clade 1b variant, according to federal health officials. Despite this development, the agency assured that the overall risk to the Canadian population remains "low."

The case was identified shortly after the individual sought medical care upon returning from an international trip. While clade 2 of mpox has been circulating in Canada since 2022, this marks the first confirmed instance of clade 1 in the country.

Mpox is a zoonotic viral disease that can spread from animals to humans and between individuals. Common symptoms include fever, muscle pain, and skin lesions.

Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has opted to maintain its highest level of alert regarding the mpox outbreak. The number of cases and affected countries continues to rise.

As of early November, approximately 51,000 cases and 1,083 deaths have been reported worldwide since January. Central Africa remains the epicenter of the outbreak, accounting for 85.8% of reported cases and nearly all fatalities (99.4%).

This latest case highlights the importance of global vigilance in tracking and controlling the spread of new viral variants.

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