According to the report, there are currently 22 cases of lymphogranuloma venereum reported to the country's public health agency. An analysis in the May 31 online edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal first announced the potential outbreak.
The analysis says, "currently in Canada, LGV appears to be primarily occurring among men having sex with men, a high proportion of whom have concurrent HIV infection, other [sexually transmitted diseases] or hepatitis C."
The Association warns that "LGV is an emerging and significant public health concern."
LGV, a type of chlamydia infection, can be transmitted through vaginal, anal or oral sexual contact - starting as a small lesion and progressing into painfully swollen lymph nodes.
Accordin got the CBC, if left untreated, it can lead to deformity of the genitals or rectum, and, in rare cases, even death.
The infection is endemic in parts of Africa, Asia, South America and the Caribbean.
LGV seldom appeared in industrialized countries until recently. Cases among homosexual men occured in the Netherlands in 2003, followed by cases in Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden, Britain and the United States.
These cases have been associated with concurrent HIV or hepatitis C infections and higher-risk sexual activities such as sex parties.
The article in the medical journal, which will appear in its June 21 print edition, says that the provinces and territories had reported 16 confirmed and six possible cases of LGV to the Public Health Agency of Canada by May 13.
The earliest known onset of an infection dated back to January 2004.
Ten patients reported having sex with men and one reported having sex with women in the two months before they were interviewed. No one reported having sex in other countries during that time.
