Microscope image of Monkeypox (Image courtesy Centers for Disease Control)

By CKOM News

Monkeypox

Saskatchewan alerts public about elevated risk of Monkeypox

Aug 13, 2022 | 11:06 AM

Health officials are raising concerns about Monkeypox in Saskatchewan after new information related to recent cases.

“The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is alerting the public to the elevated risk of acquiring Monkeypox through anonymous sexual contact due to recent known cases associated with this source of transmission,” said a release issued on Saturday.

“Information reported to public health, related to travel into and out of province, has prompted this alert.”

Saskatchewan has two recorded cases of the viral illness. The SHA says individuals who believe they have been exposed can contact Healthline 811 to determine if they are considered at risk or eligible for a vaccine.

Eligibility for the Monkeypox vaccine has been expanded to adults 18 years and older who are close contacts or deemed higher risk for exposure.

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The disease causes fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes and lethargy, followed by the development of a rash over a person’s body. Monkeypox does not spread easily from person to person. It is spread through:

• Close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact;
• touching bodily fluids or lesions of a person who is sick with the disease; or
• exposure to contaminated objects such as bed linens or clothing.

The Ministry of Health and SHA have increased surveillance for monkeypox and have alerted health care providers across the province.

The province is also continuing to work with the Public Health Agency of Canada and National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg to investigate any further potential cases in Saskatchewan.