OTTAWA: Canada's Public Health Agency (PHAC) has identified 16 cases of monkeypox across the country.

According to the latest reports, all of the cases have been recorded in the province of Quebec, and samples are being received for confirmation testing from different jurisdictions.Local health centres are detecting and treating cases of monkeypox,  the PHAC statement said.

Provinces and territories are working together to give access to licenced vaccines in Canada that can be used to manage monkeypox in their jurisdiction if necessary. To support their targeted response, PHAC gave Quebec with a modest supply of Imvamune vaccine from Canada's National Emergency Strategic Stockpile as a preparedness measure.  Other jurisdictions will begin receiving limited pre-positioning supply supplies when warehouse and cold chain operations are established, PHAC said.

Monkeypox is a sylvatic zoonosis that can infect people. It is most commonly found in forested areas of Central and West Africa. According to the World Health Organization, it is caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the orthopoxvirus family.

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