MONTREAL — Quebec health officials are reporting a dozen new cases of monkeypox for a total of 248 since the outbreak began in the province. Earlier this week, authorities had reported 236 reported cases in the province. Quebec’s Ministry of Health says 9,437 doses of vaccine have been administered since May 27 to contain Canada’s largest outbreak of the disease. Public health officials say most cases are among men who report close contact with men, but say anyone can get monkeypox. Smallpox vaccines have been shown to be effective in fighting the smallpox virus. The rare disease comes from the same family of viruses that cause smallpox, which the World Health Organization declared eradicated worldwide in 1980. Monkeypox generally does not spread easily between humans and is transmitted through prolonged close contact via respiratory droplets, direct contact with skin lesions or body fluids, or through contaminated clothing or bedding. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 7, 2022. The Canadian Press
