Monkeypox and Travel: Canadians Need to Know-Nationwide

Canadian travelers may be worried about contracts Monkeypox After a public health warning was issued earlier this week, he cautioned those planning to go abroad.

While there are ongoing concerns about the number of cases that occur in countries where the virus is usually absent, experts say the risk of outbreaks that can cause a pandemic-level disease epidemic remains low. increase.

Dave Evans, a virology and poxvirus expert at the University of Alberta, says that the risk of monkeypox is not a major concern when it comes to travel.

“In reality, we know the numbers sound loud, but with a great plan, as long as there is a risk of infection, they are almost nonexistent,” Evans said.

“If you’re traveling to other parts of the world and meeting strangers, there are some things you should know in common sense, no matter what you’re doing. But I’m really worried about monkeypox. There is nothing to do.”

On Tuesday, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice to encourage people traveling abroad to take special precautions in the face of monkeypox outbreaks around the world. Did.

However, this recommendation carefully noted that the highest risk of infection was in direct contact with monkeypox or its family members or individuals with close contact.

If travelers get sick, the recommendations said they could be exposed to quarantine or other means to limit the spread of the virus. If they leave the country, they may also face a delay in returning home.

This means that if you are not exposed to a sick person or someone very close to an infected person and you do not plan to attend a large party or large rally as part of your trip, your chances of getting the disease are negligible. That’s Evans.

“The virus is spread by close contact of all kinds. And, of course, it involves sexual contact. But if you can avoid it at a party at risk, you can go. is.”

Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan’s vaccine and infectious disease organization, is more interested in protecting herself from exposure to COVID-19 in her own preparations for her upcoming trip to Europe. Say there is.

“But many of the same precautions I take are wearing masks in crowded areas, limiting exposure to people outside the home, practicing hand hygiene, and airplane seatback trays. Related to monkeypox disinfecting surfaces like. “

However, travelers who are planning to meet new intimate partners while traveling, or who may meet by chance, need to be more vigilant, Rasmussen said.

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WHO does not expect monkeypox to turn into another pandemic

“Monkeypox infections appear to be associated with intimate relationships with sexual networks. Therefore, people traveling to events where they may have sex with a new partner will be infected with monkeypox even if they wear condoms. It is necessary to pay particular attention to the fact that the monkeypox is not disturbed. It can be transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact and contact with body fluids. “

She suggests that anyone who has been in contact with a new partner in the past few weeks should be aware of abnormal rashes and symptoms.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday that more than 1,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported in countries other than West Africa and Central Africa, where the virus normally spreads.

Outbreaks of viral disease have been reported in about 30 countries where monkeypox is not endemic.

Canada has identified at least 98 cases of virus infection, 90 of which are in Quebec, 5 in Ontario, 2 in Alberta, and 1 in British Columbia.

On Tuesday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) removed the mask recommendations from monkeypox travel notices to avoid “confusion” about the disease.

The agency previously suggested that travelers wear masks that help protect them from “many illnesses, including monkeypox,” which can be spread by “respiratory secretions during prolonged face-to-face contact.” He said he had sex.

Rosamund Lews, WHO’s chief expert on monkeypox, said Wednesday that face-to-face and skin-to-skin physical contact was a major contributor to the spread of the virus in non-epidemic countries such as Canada and the United States. Health measures such as contact tracing, surveillance and quarantine for the sick are primarily recommended.

“There’s still a lot we don’t know about other transmit modes, and we need to do more research in this area,” Lewis said at a press conference in Geneva.

Evans understands growing concerns about monkeypox between Canadians and travelers after a two-year COVID-19 limit and 6.3 million coronavirus-related deaths worldwide. It states that it is.

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Health officials encourage calm as more cases of monkeypox occur in Canada

But small outbreaks of many illnesses are constant around the world, and the general public is usually unaware, he said.

Given that monkeypox infections have historically been low and awareness of current cases has increased, Evans predicts the outbreak of the virus, and the public’s attention will soon “disappear”. And disappear again. “

The simple answer is no when it comes to whether travelers need to be particularly concerned about monkeypox.

“Before I was worried about monkeypox, I was worried about some other infectious diseases,” Evans said.