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By Michael Reeve

MONKEYPOX

Interior Health working to vaccinate highest risk populations against monkeypox

Jul 29, 2022 | 4:16 PM

KAMLOOPS — British Columbia has announced that there are 61 cases of monkeypox in the province, most of which were detected in the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.

As of July 27, there was no confirmed cases of the virus in the Interior. The monkeypox virus does not spread easily from person-to-person. All identified local transmission has involved prolonged skin-to-skin contact, which is suspected to be the primary way the virus is spread.

Health Canada maintains a limited stockpile of smallpox vaccine, which is also effective against monkeypox, that is made available through the B.C Centre for Disease Control. Interior Health medical health officer Dr. Carol Fenton confirmed the vaccine supply is extremely limited.

“Provincially we are focusing on vaccinating in areas that we are seeing cases. So, in the interior because we haven’t seen any cases yet, we are getting a relatively small proportion of doses, but it is allowing us to get a start on that more preventive side and start vaccinating the highest risk groups,” stated Fenton.

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Symptoms of monkeypox infection usually appear one to two weeks after exposure.

The disease can occur in two stages, with flu-like symptoms appearing first, followed by a rash, usually with sores or blisters. However, many people only get the rash.

Dr. Fenton spoke to the ongoing challenge of dealing with the stigma around the disease, noting anybody can get infected.

“We have to balance the risk of creating stigma, against the need to protect those groups. If we know that a certain cultural or social group is most highest risk, we want to make sure they get access to that protection. So we have to weigh the risks and the benefits at all times,” said Fenton.