The Union Health Ministry of India has issued a direction to increase vigilance at all international airports and land ports, with a special focus on those bordering Bangladesh and Pakistan, in response to growing worldwide concerns about Mpox (previously known as monkeypox). This preventive action seeks to locate and quarantine any foreign visitors exhibiting Mpox symptoms. Mpox is a virus illness brought on by the monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus.
Despite the fact that there haven’t been any verified instances of mpox in India as yet, the government is taking preventative measures in case an outbreak occurs. According to current evaluations, there is still little chance of a large Mpox breakout in India, according to Press Trust of India officials. However, the Ministry stresses that in order to properly limit and manage any instances that may occur, stringent surveillance and early identification are crucial. These actions are a part of a larger plan to stop the virus from spreading throughout the nation.
Hospitals Dedicated to the Management of Mpox
Three central government facilities in New Delhi, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Medical College, have been identified by the Union Health Ministry as the principal locations for isolating, treating, and monitoring Mpox patients in order to efficiently handle any possible cases. State administrations have also been instructed to locate and get local hospitals in their areas ready to treat instances of Mumps. The goal of this decentralized approach is to provide timely and effective medical treatment across the nation.
More Mpox testing labs
In order to enable prompt diagnosis of instances of monkeypox, the ministry has instructed the network of testing facilities to prepare. To test for the virus, 32 laboratories are set up in India as of right now.
Mpox Transmission and Symptoms
The WHO states that the primary method of mpox transmission between individuals is through direct physical contact, such as touching, kissing, or sexual activity. Additionally, it can transfer from infected animals to humans through bites, scratches, or contact with contaminated objects like clothes or linens. It can also spread through activities like cooking and hunting. An additional degree of risk is posed by the possibility of viral transmission to unborn infants in pregnant women.
Mpox symptoms can last for two to four weeks after exposure and often start to show up one to three weeks later. Typical signs and symptoms include of:
Rash: One of the main characteristics of Mpox is a rash that starts out as flat sores and progresses into blisters filled with fluid, which can hurt or itch. As they heal, these lesions eventually get crusty and shed.
Temperature: The rash is frequently accompanied by a high temperature.
Headache and Muscle Aches: Severe headaches and muscular aches are common in individuals.
Swollen lymph nodes: Another typical sign is lymphadenopathy, or swollen lymph nodes.
Fatigue: It’s common to feel generally exhausted or short on energy.
With mpox, there can be large variations in the rash’s intensity and spread. A few lesions may appear on some people, while hundreds may appear on others. The palms, soles, face, mouth, genital region, and anus are just a few of the body locations where these lesions can develop.
Mpox is considered a Public Health Emergency by the WHO
Because mpox is so common, especially in regions of Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified it as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Even while there is little chance of a significant epidemic in India, there are concerns because the present strain of the virus is known to be more deadly and contagious. According to a prior WHO study, since 2022, there have been 208 fatalities and 99,176 cases of Mpox in 116 different countries. Particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the number of cases has steadily increased.
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