The Saskatchewan Health Authority is alerting the public to the elevated risk of acquiring monkeypox through anonymous sexual contact due to recent known cases associated with this source of transmission.

Information reported to public health, related to travel into and out of province, has prompted this alert.

The province says individuals who believe they have been exposed can contact HealthLine 811 to determine if they are considered at risk or eligible for a vaccine.

Dr. Saqib Shahab, chief medical health officer for the province, said monkeypox cases in the province are low, with only three confirmed cases.

“But exposures have been outside the province, or outside the country,” he said. “But now the situation is that we have people who have been exposed in Saskatchewan.

Shahab says Saskatchewan wants to do everything it can to prevent a surge in cases.

“But I think it’s really important… one thing we don’t want to see is people who are not able to come and access testing, and then we have missed opportunities to control transmissions,” said Shahab.