As Mpox infections rise globally, Ontario is seeing an increase in cases. Mpox is a viral infectious disease that enters the body through skin, the respiratory tract or mucous membranes. Transmission can occur through:
- Animal-to-human contact
- Direct contact with an infected animal’s skin lesions or body fluids (e.g., contact from providing care, through bites or scratches, and preparing or eating undercooked meat).
- Person-to-person contact
- Skin-to-skin contact
- Mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-skin contact
- Face-to-face with someone (e.g., talking or breathing close to one another) can generate infectious respiratory particles.
- Fomites
- Direct contact with contaminated objects such as clothing, linen, razors, utensils, toothbrushes and through needle injuries in health care.
Common symptoms of Mpox include:
- Rash
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Back pain
- Low energy
- Swollen lymph nodes
Public Health Ontario is reminding all health care providers, including RDHs, to remain vigilant for signs and symptoms of Mpox. Individuals at higher risk for Mpox infection should consider speaking with their primary health care provider about vaccination. For the latest information on the situation in Ontario, visit Public Health Ontario’s website.