One case of monkeypox has been confirmed in Island Health through laboratory testing at the BC Centre for Disease Control. The person resides in the south island. Island Health public health teams are conducting follow-up. The risk to the general public is very low.

Island Health’s public health teams received confirmation of the first monkeypox case in the Island Health region on July 7, 2022. As part of established communicable disease management practice, Island Health is managing contacts identified through contact tracing.

Monkeypox does not generally spread easily between people and the risk to the general public at this time is very low. While most, but not all, recent global infections are among men who identify as gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with other men, the virus can affect anyone through close person-to-person contact. Within Island Health, vaccinations are being provided to high-risk contacts identified through contact tracing.

Information about monkeypox:

• Symptoms for monkeypox usually appear one to two weeks after exposure but can take anywhere from five to 21 days to appear.
• The disease can occur in two stages, with flu-like symptoms appearing first, followed by a rash usually with sores/blisters. However, many people only get the rash.
• People are considered to be infectious from when symptoms first appear until the sores crust over, are dry, and new skin is visible.
• Most people with monkeypox have mild symptoms and do not require any specific interventions.