Monkeypox updates - Canada issues level-two travel notice

Travellers have been advised to take precautions while visiting more than 20 countries and regions, including Australia, Britain and the United States.

The level-two notice aims to limit the spread of the monkeypox virus and was issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadians were advised to take enhanced health precautions following visits to specified countries and even isolate if they should become ill.

“You may have limited access to timely and appropriate health care should you become ill, and may experience delays in returning home,” the agency tweeted.

More than 911 monkeypox cases were reported across 30 countries and regions, from which 81 are in Canada.

The recently issued Level 2 Travel Advisory “indicates an increased risk to travellers or certain groups of travellers (for example, pregnant women, campers, people visiting friends and relatives) and reminds them to practise enhanced health precautions”, such as protective equipment, avoid travelling to affected areas, avoid risky activities, vaccination, hand washing, limit gathering attendance, know the first symptoms and more.

The notice is valid for the following destinations: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States.

The Canadian officials commented:

“During your travel, you may be subject to procedures at your destination put in place to limit the spread of monkeypox, such as isolation, should you become infected. You may have limited access to timely and appropriate health care should you become ill, and may experience delays in returning home.

“PHAC is working closely with international, provincial, and territorial health partners to gather information on this evolving issue. Further investigations are underway to determine the likely source of infection and to limit further onward spread.”

As the government also stated, “monkeypox is a disease that is caused by a virus, […] regularly found in parts of Central and West Africa, where it has been re-emerging in recent years”. The illness spreads via close contact with infected individuals or objects, or from animals to humans.

Officials added that “symptoms usually last between 14 and 28 days. Monkeypox is usually a mild, self-limited disease. In rare situations, people may become very sick and death may occur.”

“Treatment for monkeypox is mainly supportive. Vaccines and medications for prevention and treatment are not commercially available at this time.”

The virus can enter the body through skin lesions, body fluids, blood, mucosa, respiratory droplets and due to contaminated objects.

 

source: 7news.com.au, traveloffpath.com