Cases of monkeypox infection are being reported in many countries of the world. After the dangerous increase in infection in African countries, especially Congo, it is now seen affecting other countries as well. Seeing the speed of monkeypox infection and the severity of the disease, the World Health Organization has declared it a global health emergency. According to recent reports, cases of this infectious disease have also been reported in Pakistan-Sweden. Health experts have advised all people to remain cautious about this growing danger.
India has also become alert after cases of infection were reported in neighboring country Pakistan. According to media reports, the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) of Tamil Nadu has instructed the airport and port officials to be especially careful. Officials have been told to keep special vigil on passengers coming from Congo and Central African countries.
It is worth noting that most of the patients who are found positive for monkeypox infection have a travel history, that is, recently such people have traveled to those countries where this infection is spreading rapidly.
Instructions issued for officials
In a circular issued to all District Health Officers (DHOs), airports, and port health officials of Chennai, Madurai, and Coimbatore, Director of Public Health T.S. Selvavinayagam has alerted about the risks of monkeypox. Instructions have been issued to do thermal screening of passengers coming from affected countries and to take information about the travel of the last 21 days.
It is worth noting that for the first time in the year 2022, cases of infection were reported in India. Since 2022, 30 cases of viral infection have been registered in the country.
How much danger is there in India?
Senior health officials say that at present the risk of monkeypox infection in India is very low and there is no need to panic. Since this is a very contagious virus and has reached neighboring countries, it is important to be alert in advance.
According to reports, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda may soon review the situation by holding a meeting with officials of the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Let us understand in detail about monkeypox in seven points.
1. Monkeypox has been a public health problem in parts of Africa for several decades. The first case in humans was reported in Congo in the year 1970. Currently, there are 27,000 cases of infection in Congo. More than 1,100 deaths have occurred here since January 2023.
2. Given the rapidly spreading infection in many countries including the US-Africa, two years ago, WHO declared monkeypox a health emergency. This time also, given the increasing risks, it has been declared a global health emergency on August 14.
3. Ampox infection is considered dangerous and life-threatening. Cases of this infection have been seen more in children, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems.
4. Cases of infection have been seen more mainly in gay, and bisexual people. Apart from sexual relations, the risk of this infection can occur in many other ways, due to which all people need to be cautious.
5. There is a risk of it spreading from one person to another through close contact with the infected person such as body fluids, droplets, and sexual contact.
6. The infected may have large blisters on the skin along with swelling in the lymph nodes and fever. Even mild symptoms can be fatal.
7. The United States Food and Drug Administration has also approved a smallpox vaccine called JNEOS (also known as Imvamune or Imvanex) for severe ampox cases in people aged 18 years and above.
(PC: Freepik)
