Toronto public health officials don’t expect the rise in MPOX infections to lead to a large outbreak similar to the one that occurred in Canada in 2022, but people at risk from the virus will be vaccinated. I am calling on you to do so.Alain Jocard/Associated Press
Toronto health officials are sounding the alarm over a rise in mpox cases and are urging people who may be at higher risk of contracting the virus to get vaccinated.
There have been 21 confirmed cases of the virus, formerly known as monkeypox, in the city so far this year, compared to 27 in all of 2023.
Rita Shahin, deputy medical officer of health for Toronto Public Health, said only two of the mpox cases confirmed this year were linked to international travel, and those who were unvaccinated or undervaccinated. It said this suggests that community transmission among people is contributing to the current situation.
Dr. Sahin said cases of MPOX have occurred in other jurisdictions, such as Ottawa and New York, but not as many in Montreal.
“It appears that there is still some small-scale community transmission in some areas,” she said.
Mpox is primarily prevalent among men who have sex with men. People who have more than one sex partner, have anonymous sex, or frequent sex clubs are at higher risk, Dr. Shahin said. The virus can be transmitted from person to person through contact with lesions, scabs, and body fluids.
Mpox can cause fever, muscle aches, sore throat, and painful rashes and lesions that can occur on one part of the body, such as the face or genitals, or can spread anywhere. Some people may experience serious complications such as bacterial infections, pneumonia, and inflammation of the brain or heart.
The name of the virus was changed to mpox at the suggestion of the World Health Organization after an outbreak in 2022 and the use of racist and derogatory language associated with the disease.
Dr. Shahin said authorities do not expect the increase in mpox cases to lead to a large-scale outbreak similar to the one that occurred in Canada in 2022, when nearly 700 cases were reported in Ontario. No, he said. But she said it’s important for people who may be at risk to be aware of the situation and protect themselves.
The mpox vaccine is given in two doses 28 days apart. During the 2022 outbreak, many high-risk people received one dose of the vaccine, but only 16% received the second dose. Sahin said that may be because the outbreak is starting to slow down and there is less urgency to get vaccinated.
An analysis published last month in the journal Cell suggests that widespread changes in behavior among individuals are believed to have brought the outbreak under control. Although a vaccine was not readily available at the time, the number of infections still began to decline, which the authors credit to public messaging for high-risk individuals.
Dr. Sahin said part of the reason cases may be rising now is that people are returning to higher-risk activities, such as having multiple sex partners.
“While we don’t expect large scale outbreaks, this is a good reminder for people to think about their sexual health and get vaccinated if eligible.”
