The number of Monkeypox cases in Canada has grown to 77.
Seventy-one of those cases are in Quebec, five in Ontario and one in Alberta.
The Public Health Agency of Canada updated case numbers on Friday evening.
New Brunswick Public Health Spokesperson Michelle Guenard confirmed in an email that a suspected case in the province tested negative.
She stated, “An individual sought medical advice for an unrelated problem and mentioned some past symptoms which had already resolved. Specimens were gathered and sent for testing. The results came back negative.”
But she adds that since the specimens were not collected when symptoms were present, they cannot safely rule out Monkeypox.
“Public Health contacted the person and that person’s close contact and informed them what symptoms to look for, and to report back any symptoms immediately. The risk to the public from this suspect case is low,” Guenard says.
Moving forward Public Health in New Brunswick will only be reporting confirmed cases.
Health Minister Dorothy Shephard reported the suspected case in the New Brunswick legislature earlier this week.
The first two cases of Monkeypox in Canada were reported on May 19.
During a briefing on Friday, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam told reporters the virus in not exclusively connected to any group or setting, “Anyone, no matter their gender or sexual orientation, could get infected and spread the virus if they come into close contact, including intimate sexual contact with an infected person or a contaminated object.”
PHAC is continuing to collect and analyze epidemiological information reported by the provinces and territories to help define the national scope of the investigation.
As the investigation evolves, the Agency says it is anticipated that additional cases will be reported in the country.
