Highlights
- According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, the Monkeypox infection was confirmed by laboratory tests.
- As per the Government of Canada, the Public Health Agency is actively monitoring the situation.
- The virus that causes Monkeypox is diagnosed at Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory.
A patient in Vancouver was reportedly diagnosed with Monkeypox on June 6, which is the first incident in British Columbia. According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, the infection was confirmed by laboratory tests, which is waiting for National Microbiology Laboratory's confirmation.
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According to reports, Vancouver Coastal Health is performing a public health follow-up, although the danger to the public remains low.
Meanwhile, the data by the Government of Canada suggests that there were 77 confirmed cases across Canada as of June 3. Some published reports indicate that Monkeypox cases in Canada began through a sauna in Montreal.
Over 700 cases of Monkeypox have been reportedly discovered in non-endemic countries, particularly in Europe, since May.
What is Monkeypox?
Monkeypox is transmitted through animals, and its symptoms are like smallpox. However, it is less severe, says the World Health Organization.
The disease can spread through infected surfaces such as towels and bedding. Also, it can be transmitted from one person to another via body fluids, among others.
The common symptoms of Monkeypox include fever and rash. A delay in detecting the disease can lead to several medical issues.
How is Canada handling Monkeypox?
As per the Government of Canada, the Public Health Agency actively monitors the situation in collaboration with provinces and territories, apart from international partners. The focus is on preventing it from spreading further.
Also, the Chief Public Health Officer and Chief Medical Officers of Health are working in sync to ensure that Monkeypox cases are quickly detected and managed to protect Canadians' health.
The virus that causes Monkeypox is being diagnosed at Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory. In addition, the lab is performing whole-genome sequencing, which is a type of advanced fingerprint analysis, on monkeypox samples from Canada.
Also, to provide testing advice and increase Monkeypox testing capability, the laboratory collaborates closely with provincial and territorial public health laboratories.
Bottom line
It seems highly unlikely that the rise in Monkeypox cases will majorly impact the stock market, as some scientists believe that it won't be the next global pandemic.
The issues like record-high inflation and rising interest rates are already contributing to the volatility in the equities markets. Also, others macroeconomic factors like the war between Russia and Ukraine continue to affect the needs and the global economy.
On June 6, the Canadian markets remained almost unchanged as the S&P/TSX Composite Index only recorded a growth of 0.1 per cent and closed at 20,819.09 points.
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