Canada’s Public Health Agency (PHAC) confirmed that the first case of clade I mpox in the country, detected in a Manitoba resident.

According to PHAC, the case is linked to an ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox in central and eastern Africa and is travel-related.

“The individual sought medical attention for mpox symptoms shortly after returning to Canada and is now in isolation,” PHAC said in a statement.

The agency added that it is collaborating with Manitoba’s public health authorities. On November 22, the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) confirmed that the sample tested positive for mpox clade Ib.

While clade II mpox has been present in Canada since 2022, this marks the first confirmed case of clade I mpox in the country, PHAC noted.

The World Health Organization (WHO) had earlier emphasized that the mpox outbreak remains a public health emergency. The WHO declared a global health emergency in August for the second consecutive year after a clade Ib variant spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to nearby regions.

Mpox, a viral infection spread through close contact, causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions. Although typically mild, it can be fatal in some cases.

PHAC reassured the public that the overall risk to Canada’s population remains low but stated that it is closely monitoring the situation. Public health officials are conducting an investigation and contact tracing related to the case.