INDIA. Mumbai: Despite the fact that no cases of monkey virus have been identified in India, surveillance has been increased across the country, including Maharashtra, on the orders of the Union Health Ministry.
The National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has advised states and union territories to keep an eye on people who exhibit symptoms of monkeypox and have travelled to a nation that has recently reported confirmed or suspected cases of monkeypox in the previous 21 days.
The suspected cases must be isolated at specified healthcare facilities until all lesions have healed and a new layer of skin has grown, or until the treating physician agrees to release them.
According to the advisory, the patients have to be reported to the district surveillance officer of an integrated disease surveillance program.
Laboratory samples of suspected cases, including vesicular fluid, blood, sputum, and other materials, must also be sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, Maharashtra, for testing.
Thermal screening of overseas passengers with any history of travel to monkeypox-affected nations in the last 21 days has been made mandatory, according on the Health Ministry’s advice.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued an advise to the Mumbai International Airport Limited, which manages the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, advising them to inspect all patients arriving from countries where monkeypox has been found.
The Maharashtra government has also published a statement outlining the necessary procedures.
The BMC further advised airport employees to report the probable case to Kasturba Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Chinchpokli, South Mumbai. The Kasturba Hospital was the primary site for COVID-19 detection.
The Dr. Naidu Hospital, a multi-specialty hospital in Sangamvadi, Pune, has been ordered to remain on standby by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
Other hospitals have also been instructed to remain on standby, according to Dr. Sanjeev Vavre, Assistant Health Officer of the PMC, and they are prepared with all necessary facilities.
The virus that causes monkeypox is more frequent in West and Central Africa. In the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Israel, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, 92 patients have been identified. Aside from that, 28 patients are being monitored.
Dr. Ishwar Gilada, a Mumbai-based Infectious disease expert, and consultant said that, “Monkeypox is Zoonotic. Such viruses spread in animals, but take a jump to humans. For example, HIV is Zoonotic. Initially, it came as a monkey virus called simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), and then it became HIV.”
“Fortunately, India hasn’t reported a single case of the non-human virus so far. Initially, a Smallpox vaccine can be used for the treatment of infected patients, although nothing much can be said at this stage. But the Monkey virus is not contagious,” he added.
Some scientists think that the monkeypox outbreak will not evolve into a pandemic like COVID-19 as this virus does not spread as easily as SARS-COV-2.
Monkeypox Symptoms and Signs
The earliest symptoms are nonspecific and include fever, sweats, malaise, and cough, nausea, and shortness of breath in some patients. A rash with papules and pustules appears on the face and chest two to four days after the fever starts. Mucus membranes inside the nose and mouth, as well as other body locations, may eventually be damaged.
These pox lesions on the skin and mucus membranes might ulcerate, crust over, and recover in 14-21 days.
Also Read: U.S. Tracks More Than 200 People For Monkeypox Exposure
