Mpox: Update
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Current situation
Canada
The risk to people in Canada from mpox (previously called monkeypox) remains low.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) works with provincial and territorial public health partners to monitor mpox in Canada.
There are 2 known subtypes (clades) of mpox virus: clade I and clade II.
Clade I is divided into 2 subclades: clade Ia and Ib. Current reports suggest that clade Ib mpox is less severe than clade Ia.
Clade II is also divided into 2 subclades: clade IIa and clade IIb.
The majority of mpox cases reported in Canada have been caused by clade IIb mpox virus. Cases continue to be detected and reported across Canada.
Epidemiological patterns of mpox in Canada have remained consistent:
- Most cases are among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.
- Most cases are acquired in Canada, suggesting ongoing localized transmission.
- Hospitalizations are rare and no deaths have been reported.
We'll continue to work with provincial and territorial public health authorities to:
- maintain public health monitoring
- study new evidence to guide timely public health action
Detailed data on cases of mpox across Canada
Learn more:
- Public Health Agency of Canada confirms the first case of clade I mpox in Canada
- Epidemiological summary report: 2022-2023 mpox outbreak in Canada
- Rapid risk assessment: Clades 1a and 1b mpox virus (MPXV) multi-country outbreaks – public health implications for Canada
- Rapid risk assessment: Clade 1 mpox virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, public health implications for Canada
Global
Monitoring in non-endemic areas (countries or areas where mpox isn't usually found) has been limited but is now expanding. Available information suggests that human-to-human transmission is occurring among people in close physical contact with people with symptoms.
On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General issued a statement declaring a public health emergency of international concern. This was based on the increase in mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a growing number of African countries. It was also based on the emergence of a new sub-lineage of clade I mpox virus (clade Ib).
The emergency was declared over on September 5, 2025. This was based on sustained declines of cases and deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other affected African countries including Burundi, Sierra Leone and Uganda.
A previous public health emergency of international concern for mpox was in place from June 23, 2022 until May 10, 2023. This was due to a multi-country outbreak of mpox caused by clade IIb mpox virus in previously non-endemic countries, including Canada.
Since the beginning of the 2022 mpox outbreak in Canada, our top priority has been protecting the health of people in Canada. We're monitoring the global mpox situation closely and working with domestic and international partners to determine opportunities for support.
If you're traveling, the travel health notice outlines potential health risks and ways to help reduce them.
Learn more:
- Travel health notice for mpox
- Canada announces vaccines in support of the mpox outbreak in Africa
- Minister Joly announces funding for mpox response
- Government of Canada's response to the World Health Organization's declaration on mpox
- World Health Organization Director General declares mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern
How Canada monitors mpox
We work with provinces, territories and international partners, including the WHO, to:
- conduct public health monitoring in Canada
- contribute to global monitoring initiatives
- watch for the emergence of clade I mpox virus in Canada
Provincial and territorial health authorities report data on cases of mpox to us on a regular basis.
In collaboration with provincial and territorial partners, we've also been monitoring mpox through wastewater testing in Canada since July 2022. We can test for the general mpox virus and clade I of the virus.