Listen Live
Listen Live
Listen Live

Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer says smallpox vaccine can work on monkeypox 

Fewer than a couple of dozen suspected Canadian cases of monkeypox are currently being investigated at the national microbiology laboratory. 

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says the cases are mainly in Quebec with a couple of contacts being followed up in British Columbia as well. “We understand from other countries that are reporting cases that the current monkeypox strain, or clade, is the West African clade. We have not yet confirmed that in Canada,” she says.

However, Tam says two cases are confirmed in Canada. With the samples being processed at the national microbiology lab today (Friday), Tam says we could see more confirmations in the coming hours and days.

The World Health Organization says monkeypox has so far been reported in 11 countries that normally don’t have the disease. WHO officials say as of Friday, there are about 80 confirmed cases and 50 pending investigations. Tam says the extent of the spread of monkeypox in Canada is currently unknown, but officials do know that the virus is generally spread through close contact. 

Tam says the vaccines currently being investigated by Health Canada for monkeypox were originally developed for smallpox which was declared eradicated by the WHO in 1980. 

“One of the vaccines seems to have an effect on monkeypox as well. So there hasn’t essentially been a clinical trial of the vaccines against monkeypox itself but I think based on what we know globally the smallpox vaccines can be applied to monkeypox. In particular, there is one that has monkeypox included in its labeling.”

Tam says Health Canada is having discussions internationally but also with provincial counterparts around potential use. She says the country has a limited supply of the smallpox vaccine but was not able to disclose the exact number based on security reasons.

***With files from Mo Fahim

Something going on in the Cariboo you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].

Continue Reading

ckbx Now playing play

cffm Now playing play

ckcq Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Williams Lake Stampede brought in $5 mil, but needs help to be sustainable

The Williams Lake Stampede Association presented the economic impact that the 2025 Stampede contributed to the City. The Stampede Association also advocated for the City of Williams Lake to help make organizing and putting on the Stampede more sustainable as the volunteer base is shrinking and burning out.

Multiple Evacuation Alerts and Orders Lifted in Cariboo Fire Centre

The Evacuation Orders in the Beef Trail Creek Area and Area 2, the Dusty Lake Area, and Charlotte Lake Area have been Lifted by local First Nations Bands and the Cariboo Regional District on September 16.

Overton, Suapa secure commitments from varsity hockey programs

The Capitals begin their regular season with a four game showcase in Surrey from September 26th to 28th against the Vancouver Island Seals (twice), the Fraser Valley Rush and Greater Vancouver Comets.

Public sector workers escalate job action as strike enters third week

The B.C. General Employees Union and the Professional Employees Association are escalating job action as their members enter a third week of strikes. 

B.C. approves environmental certificate for massive LNG project on northern coast

British Columbia has given the green light to a floating liquified natural gas (LNG) export facility on B.C.’s northern coast. 
- Advertisement -