1 case of monkeypox confirmed in Alberta

An "isolated case" of monkeypox has been confirmed in Alberta, the province's chief medical officer of health said Thursday.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw posted on Twitter that the Alberta case had close contact with a known case outside the province.

Hinshawdid not say where in the province the infected individual lives.

She said no identifying information about the person will be released to protect the privacy of the patient.

"The individual is currently self-isolating and we appreciate their co-operation in working with our team to inform our investigation and contact tracing," said Hinshaw."At this time, the risk of further transmission is low."

Hinshaw said monkeypox is a rare disease that can cause fevers, aches andrashes. Monkeypox is generally considered uncommon and low risk to the public at large, Hinshaw said.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, monkeypox typically spreads from close person-to-person contact with an infected individual through respiratory droplets, direct contact with sores or bodily fluids, or contact through contaminated clothing.

According to PHAC, there are 58confirmed cases of monkeypox in Canada, as of Thursday.

Anyone who believes they might have monkeypox is asked to self-isolateand call 811 or their primary care physician.