Mpox (monkeypox): Update

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Current situation

Canada

The risk to people in Canada from mpox (previously called monkeypox) remains low.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) works with provincial and territorial public health partners to monitor mpox in Canada.

There are 2 known subtypes (clades) of mpox virus: clade I and clade II. Clade I is divided into 2 subclades: clade Ia and Ib. Current reports suggest that clade II mpox is less severe than clade Ia.

Clade II is also divided into 2 subclades: clade IIa and clade IIb.

All mpox cases reported in Canada have been caused by clade IIb mpox virus. Cases continue to be detected and reported across Canada. Between January 1 and September 16, 2024, 255 cases were reported (251 confirmed and 4 probable). So far no cases of clade I have been identified in Canada.

Epidemiological patterns of mpox in Canada have remained consistent.

We're monitoring an increase in case reports in some regions of Canada. This might be linked to increased travel and mass gathering events over the summer and fall. However, the number of cases being reported in Canada now is far below that of the peak of the summer 2022 outbreak. We'll continue to work with provincial and territorial public health authorities to:

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Global

Monitoring in non-endemic areas (countries or areas where mpox isn't usually found) has been limited but is now expanding. Available information suggests that human-to-human transmission is occurring among people in close physical contact with people with symptoms.

On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General issued a statement declaring a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This is based on the increase in mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a growing number of African countries. It's also based on the emergence of a new sub-lineage of clade I mpox virus (clade Ib).

A previous Public Health Emergency of International Concern for mpox was in place from June 23, 2022 until May 10, 2023. This was due to a multi-country outbreak of mpox caused by clade IIb mpox virus in previously non-endemic countries, including Canada.

Since the beginning of the 2022 mpox outbreak in Canada, our top priority has been protecting the health of people in Canada. We're monitoring the global mpox situation closely and working with domestic and international partners to determine opportunities for support.

If you're traveling, the travel health notice outlines potential health risks and ways to help reduce them.

Learn more:

How Canada monitors mpox

We work with provinces, territories and international partners, including the WHO, to:

Provincial and territorial health authorities report data on cases of mpox to us on a regular basis.

In collaboration with provincial and territorial partners, we've also been monitoring mpox through wastewater testing in Canada since July 2022. We can test for the general mpox virus and clade I of the virus.

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