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.
Dr. Bonnie Henry says none of the possible cases of severe acute hepatitis, or liver inflammation, are in British Columbia, but it isn't her place to identify where they are or exactly how many.
Frontline officers arrived on scene to find an injured man suffering from alleged gunshot wounds. An off-duty Vancouver Police officer and an off-duty nurse were on scene attempting life saving measures on the man, who died on scene. It is unknown if this is related to the Lower Mainland gang conflict.
Patrol members located a 16 year old victim receiving medical treated by school staff. The youth was transported to a local area hospital for treatment of his injuries which included a significant laceration to his head, and suspected concussion and broken arm.
Moderna says it's working on a submission to Health Canada for the approval a COVID-19 vaccine for children under the age of six. The biotech company on Thursday asked U.S. regulators to authorize low doses of its vaccine for children between six months and five years of age.
Today over a dozen ceremonies resumed in person, after holding virtual ceremonies for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Vancouver ceremony is at Jack Poole Plaza starting at 10:30 a.m. and is jointly hosted by the B.C. Federation of Labour, the Business Council of British Columbia, Vancouver & District Labour Council, and WorkSafeBC.
Vancouver police say they were responding to an alleged assault inside an apartment near Commercial Drive and Fifth Avenue. There was an exchange of gunfire with a man in his 40s and Const. Tania Visintin says the man died.
