Province Confirms First Case of Monkeypox

Manitoba Health is advising of the first confirmed case of monkeypox in the province. Due to the risk of identifying the individual, information about their region of residence, gender and age will not be released. Public health officials will provide notification to close contacts, and to specific locations if the risk to others is considered high and contacts may be unknown. A public health investigation, including contact tracing, is ongoing but indicates acquisition likely occurred outside of the province.

Anyone can become infected with monkeypox. However, in Canada and around the world, at this time infections have been primarily reported among people who self-identify as belonging to the gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) community. These individuals are eligible for a preventative vaccination if they also meet at least one of these criteria:

• have received a diagnosis of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and or syphilis in the past two months;
• have had two or more sexual partners in the last 21 days;
• have attended locations for sexual contact (e.g. bath houses or sex clubs) or are planning to;
• have had anonymous sex in the past 21 days or are planning to; or
• engage in sex work or plan to, either as a worker or a client.

As of Aug. 14, 168 doses of the vaccine have been administered to eligible people in Manitoba. This information will be updated online on Tuesdays, based on information entered in the provincial immunization registry. The registry is routinely updated by health-care providers, but is not intended to provide real-time data.

Walk-in vaccinations will be available to eligible people in Winnipeg at 490 Hargrave St. on Aug. 23, 24 and 25 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Appointments are available in communities across the province. Preventive immunization for eligible people can be booked using the online booking tool at https://patient.petal-health.com/login?groupId=6032beginning. People who do not have internet access can call Health Links-Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or (toll-free) at 1-888-315-9257 for assistance booking appointments.

Public health will also be reaching out to eligible populations to support immunization efforts. If appointments in the online system are not easily accessible, individuals can also contact their local public health office to discuss other options.