Ottawa, Oct 6 (IANS) Canada has confirmed 1,406 cases of monkeypox, including 38 hospitalisations, the Public Health Agency of Canada said.
Of the confirmed cases, 674 are from Ontario, 521 from Quebec, 162 from British Columbia, 41 from Alberta, three from Saskatchewan, two from the Yukon and one each from Nova Scotia, Manitoba and New Brunswick, the health agency added on Wednesday.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunisation (NACI) recommended in an updated guidance document that those at highest risk should receive the two doses "when vaccine supply is adequate".
The rollout of second doses in Canada is starting this week. The second dose, only for people who do not have symptoms, can be administered 28 days after the first, Xinhua news agency reported.
Monkeypox is a viral disease that can spread from person to person through close contact with an infected person, including through hugs, kisses, massages or sexual intercourse, according to experts.
The organization says it currently has only four days worth of O+ blood type supply and five days worth of O- and B- blood types, along with six days worth of A- blood type and seven days worth of A+ and B+ blood types. Spokeswoman Delphine Denis says collections have been steadily decreasing since July 1.
The nearly 60-square-kilometre wildfire is located about 21 kilometres southwest of Penticton. It has prompted an evacuation order of more than 500 properties and put more than 1,000 others under orders to be ready to leave at short notice.
Police say the car was first spotted at about 3 p.m. and then again in a different area just after 4 p.m. They say they knew based on recent information that the vehicle had been involved in a recent violent crime in another jurisdiction and authorized a police pursuit.
The surviving victim, who was driving, is believed to have a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Police say they are working to find out when and where the shooting happened, and how far the vehicle travelled before the driver pulled over.
The victims have been identified as 26-year-old Harbir Khosa, 20-year old Robeen Soreni, and 19-year-old Jordan Krishna. Khosa and Krishna are both known to police. Two of the three victims died. All three victims are from Surrey.
Winds in the area are known to change constantly and their unpredictability has firefighters and emergency officials preparing for the worst, said Tim Roberts, the area's elected regional director. Much of wildfire was concentrated in steep, mountainous terrain on Friday, and was less threatening to Olalla's estimated 400 properties, but that could change, Roberts said.
