Canada confirms its first case of new mpox variant

MADRID, November 23 (EUROPE PRESS) –

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) detected this Friday the country’s first case of the new variant of smallpox 1B, formerly known as monkeypox, in a patient returning from a trip to Africa, although it said the risk to the general population “remains low.”

Canadian authorities did not provide detailed information about the patient for privacy reasons, although they said the infected person sought medical attention shortly after returning and is currently in isolation.

Although mpox clade II has been circulating in Canada since 2022, this is the first case of mpox clade I confirmed in this North American country.

PHAC explained that the risk to the general Canadian population remains low and that it continues to monitor the situation.

Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is a disease caused by a virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which highlights that the disease “continues to pose a threat” and is “of concern.” “

In mid-August, WHO declared an international emergency over this new variant, which is largely concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African countries.