Ottawa, July 21 (IANS) The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed a total of 604 cases of monkeypox in the country as of Wednesday.
The cases included 320 from Quebec, 230 from Ontario, 40 from British Columbia, 12 from Alberta and two from Saskatchewan, Xinhua news agency reported.
The Canadian federal government said on Wednesday that it will fund to support community-based organisations in addressing monkeypox.
According to the PHAC, provinces and territories are reviewing case data in their jurisdictions, and those meeting the case definition will be reported to the PHAC to be included in the national investigation.
The National Microbiology Laboratory is performing diagnostic testing for the virus that causes monkeypox. In addition, the laboratory is conducting whole genome sequencing, an enhanced fingerprint analysis, on Canadian samples of monkeypox, the PHAC said.
Monkeypox is a sylvatic zoonosis that may cause infections in humans and the disease usually occurs in forested parts of Central and West Africa. It is caused by the monkeypox virus which belongs to the orthopoxvirus family, according to the World Health Organization.
Deputy chief public health officer Dr. Howard Njoo has previously said random mandatory testing is an important part of Canada's strategy to detect new variants coming in to the country. Travellers who are not fully vaccinated must test on both the first and eighth days of their mandatory 14-day quarantine, unless exempt.
The VPD have released a photo of Justin Mohrmann, in the hopes that someone who saw him before the stabbing will come forward with more information. Police say Mohrmann was stabbed while walking near Smithe and Homer streets the morning of July 11.
In early July, two of the three youth suspects received sentencing which included charges for aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. The third offender has entered a guilty plea but is awaiting sentencing.
Since that time, the Richmond RCMP General Investigation Section (GIS) and the BC Coroners Service have been working to identify the woman without success. Today a composite sketch of the woman has been released in hopes someone will recognize her.
British Columbia has asked for about $5 billion to help rebuild after the disaster through the program, and provincial Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said accessing the money can take time, so the advanced payment is important.
Robinson is the second considered front-runner to exclude themselves from a chance at the top job after Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon recently said he didn't want the post either. Horgan announced last month that he would be stepping down in the fall and the New Democratic Party said Saturday that voting would start in November, with the new leader declared on Dec. 3.
