Public health officials say the new cases bring the total number of confirmed infections to 18. Another twenty-three cases are currently under investigation.
Over the weekend, the city launched the first of several vaccine clinics aimed at those who had close contact with someone who tested positive for monkey pox, as well as those with high-risk contacts and those at higher risk of being exposed to the virus.
The vaccine was approved by Health Canada in 2020 and has been approved for people aged 18 and over.
Smallpox is a virus that is transmitted through contact with body fluids, as well as prolonged face-to-face contact or skin-to-skin contact with a lesion.
People who are infected will generally begin to experience a general feeling of malaise, including symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes.
A few days later a rash may appear, usually on the face. Health officials said the rash starts with small red bumps like chickenpox, but then the lesions fill with clear fluid and can spread to the rest of the body.
Toronto’s first vaccination clinic is specifically for Toronto bath workers. It is administered by the Toronto Public Health (TPH) in partnership with the Gay Sexual Health Alliance (GMSH) and other community organizations.
