Canada monkeypox case count passes 1,000

More than a thousand cases of monkeypox have been recorded in Canada.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the country has reported 1,008 cases as of Aug. 10.

Ontario has had a total of 478 cases, while Quebec has seem 425. B.C. has reported 85 cases so far, while Alberta has had 16.

Saskatchewan and Yukon have recorded two cases each.

“Going forward, case numbers may change as provinces and territories continue to receive confirmatory testing results from PHAC’s National Microbiology Laboratory,” PHAC says on its website.

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People who have been infected with the monkeypox virus, which is an orthopoxvirus, typically present with symptoms including fever, a rash, and swollen lymph nodes. According to the World Health Organization, the incubation period of the virus can range from five to 21 days.

A vaccine is available, with many jurisdictions rolling it out to people over the past several weeks.

There have been many reports of monkeypox being identified among men who have sex with men. However, experts note the virus is not restricted to any groups and stress anyone can get it.

Concerns around possible stigmatization have risen when it comes to conversations around how monkeypox is spread.