Quebec reports 19 more cases of monkeypox, rules out suspected pediatric case

The Health Ministry said nearly all of the province’s cases are in Montreal.

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The presumed case of monkeypox in a Quebec child announced during the province’s last news conference on the topic turned out not to be the disease, the Health Ministry confirmed Tuesday.

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Reported cases in the province have continued to climb, however, reaching 90 on Tuesday — an increase of 19 since Quebec’s last update on Thursday. Montreal public health said 86 of those cases are located in the city. The Health Ministry would not break down the rest by region “for confidentiality reasons.”

Quebec also announced on Tuesday that 813 doses of the Imvamune smallpox vaccine have been administered in the province so far. Montreal public health said all 813 doses were administered in the city, though not everyone who received them resides there.

Officials have said several Montreal cases were linked to a traveler from Boston.

“This vaccination targets people at high risk of being exposed to monkeypox,” Health Ministry spokesperson Robert Maranda said in an email Tuesday evening. “The doses offered will be administered only following a decision by public health authorities.”

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According to recommendations from Quebec’s immunization committee, high-risk contacts of confirmed or probable monkeypox cases may be vaccinated with a single dose within four days of exposure. A second dose can be administered only if the risk of exposure is still present 28 days later.

Quebec public health authorized a first order of 1,000 vaccine doses and a second order of 4,000 additional doses, totaling 5,000 for the province, Maranda said.

In Montreal, officials are aware of three hospitalizations linked to the disease so far, including two for risks of airway obstruction and another for possible eye damage.

Maranda said monkeypox typically results in mild symptoms that disappear after two to three weeks and don’t require hospitalization.

“The most common symptoms of monkeypox are fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes (neck, armpits or groin), chills and fatigue,” he said. “Rashes may also occur, often on the face, and may spread to other parts of the body, including the genitals.”