Quebec is ready to vaccinate people who have been in close contact with monkeypox as soon as Friday. Quebec’s Director of Public Health, Dr. Luc Boileau, said: "This is a serious monkeypox outbreak." He added, "We have 25 confirmed cases and there are other cases, perhaps 20 to 30, under investigation so far."

There is at least one case under the age of 18. They are currently in isolation, and public health officials say they do not plan to disclose more information about this particular case.

Boileau spoke Thursday morning about the increasing number of monkeypox cases in the province, accompanied by Dr. Geneviève Bergeron, Medical Officer for Health Emergencies and Infectious Diseases at Montreal Public Health, and Dr. Caroline Quach, microbiologist and infectious disease expert.

On Tuesday, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) delivered a small quantity of the "Imvamune" vaccine to Quebec from the Canadian National Emergency Strategic Stockpile (NESS) to boost its response plan.

Boileau encourages anyone experiencing symptoms to immediately seek a medical specialist and follow public health procedures, such as wearing a mask and covering sores.

He said, "Stay isolated as much as possible; this is what will be considered fighting the infection." "Avoid contact with immunocompromised people, as well as pregnant women."

He pointed out that the situation is serious but not expected to reach infection levels similar to COVID-19. Montreal Public Health notes that no one is severely ill and that the risk posed by monkeypox is low.

Doctors say they do not yet know how the virus reached the community in Quebec, but it may be linked to travel to other countries.

Bergeron said when asked if public health plans to disclose outbreak locations, "We want to assure the public that we are aware and that we are doing what needs to be done."

Monkeypox is a rare disease originating from the same family as smallpox, which the World Health Organization declared eradicated in 1980.

Monkeypox usually does not spread easily between people and is transmitted through close contact with respiratory droplets, bodily fluids, or sores of an infected person.

It is generally milder than smallpox and can cause fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and sores.

Quebec reported its first cases of the virus last week.