Two travel-related cases of mpox clade Ib have been confirmed in Toronto, according to city health officials. These are the first cases of this mpox variant identified in Toronto and Ontario.
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Since 2022, mpox activity in Toronto has only involved the IIb strain of the virus. Clade Ib has been associated with outbreaks in parts of Central and Eastern Africa and has been identified in a small number of travel-related cases internationally, including several European countries.
Both clade Ib and IIb mpox can cause painful skin lesions, fever and other flu-like symptoms. Prevention and treatment are also the same for both types of mpox.
While mpox cases have been reported across the city, Toronto Public Health recorded a higher concentration of cases among residents in the downtown core. In 2025, 155 mpox cases were confirmed in Toronto.
Getting vaccinated is the best way to help prevent further mpox transmission. TPH reminds eligible residents to get vaccinated against mpox as the virus continues to circulate in Toronto and internationally. TPH recommends that the second dose be taken 28 days after the first dose. For those who have been exposed to the virus, mpox post-exposure treatment is available. If an individual has already received a smallpox vaccine in the past, they should still get vaccinated for mpox, as they may not be protected.