Canada issues travel notice as monkeypox continues to spread around the world

Canada’s public health agency has issued a travel notice as the monkeypox virus continues to spread around the world. Travellers are advised to practise enhanced health precautions under the Level 2 advisory. Read more: Quebec now has 90 confirmed monkeypox cases “Clusters of monkeypox cases have been reported in several countries internationally, outside of areas in Central and West Africa where cases are normally found,” a Tuesday release from the Public Health Agency (PHAC) said. “During your travel, you may be subject to procedures at your destination put in place to limit the spread of monkeypox, such as isolation, should you become infected.” Canadians may also have limited access to timely and appropriate health care, should they become ill, and could experience delays returning to the country, PHAC warned.

The travel advisory didn’t list any specific countries, but cases of monkeypox have been reported in places like the U.K. and U.S. “PHAC is working closely with international, provincial and territorial health partners to gather information on this evolving issue,” the agency said.

In Canada so far, Quebec has reported 90 cases of monkeypox and administered 813 vaccine doses. Five cases have also been found in Ontario and one in Alberta.

An additional case has been detected in British Columbia and has been confirmed by the BC Centre for Disease Control but is awaiting further confirmation from the National Microbiology Laboratory.