Monkeypox cases in Canada are suspected to have originated from a local sauna in Montreal, doctors have told Global News. The country’s first two cases were reported by Quebec public health officials on May 19.
Dr. Robert Pilarski, a general physician in Montreal, who treated one of those patients last week, said the individual likely got the virus from a sauna he recently visited. “He actually got it from G.I.
Joe. So this is the suspected epicentre of the epidemic,” Pilarski told Global News. Read more: Quebec to start vaccinating monkeypox contacts, confirms 25 cases Another doctor, who did not wish to be identified, also said the source of Montreal’s monkeypox outbreak was Sauna G.I.
Joe. Government officials have so far stayed clear of confirming the origin of monkeypox in Canada due to concerns of privacy and stigmatization. “As it was the case with COVID-19, we never confirm publicly outbreaks for both privacy and identification matters,” Jean Nicolas Aubé, a spokesperson for Montreal public health, told Global News in an emailed response. “Rest assured that we always intervene directly with businesses or settings where an outbreak occurs or where our investigation could lead us,” Aube added.