Indian Warned Against Monkey Pox Spreading In Europe

Last updated on October 26th, 2022 at 10:27 am

What is said to have started spreading from Africa, could spread itself in India. A new viral infection, the Monkey Pox has put India on red alert. While this is known to be spreading across Europe, no such case has been reported in India as of now.

A disease somewhat like the Corona virus which is said to infect apes aka simians, first saw its spread to humans in the 1970s in Congo. However, the latest outbreak has been seen yet again amongst the more civilized apes- humans. Cases as less than 50 had been reported since then outside the African continent.

While the virus could spread from coming into close contact with a carrier, mass spread is unheard for. Currently, the Union health ministry has directed the National Centre for Disease Control and Indian Council of Medical Research to keep a close watch on the outbreak. Also, if cases continue to increase, the Indian government could start random screening of people arriving from the affected nations.

Further, it has been ascertained that suspected samples would be sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune (NIV) for diagnosis. The government also intends to keep a watch on those who have a history of travelling to affected nations like UK, US, and parts of Europe.

Reportedly, the NCDC advisory has also asked public health authorities for heightened suspicion in people present with an otherwise unexplained rash and who have travelled, in the last 21 days, to a country that has recently reported confirmed or suspected cases of monkeypox. According to the officials, the suspected cases need to be isolated at designated healthcare facilities until all lesions have resolved and a fresh layer of skin has formed or until the treating physician decides to end isolation.

There has been a sudden alarming increase in the infection numbers in Europe; something that has left World Health Organisation alarmed and a meeting to discuss the possible reasons of the outbreak is on the horizon. India has therefore been alerted about the outbreak as well.

The good news is that the small pox vaccine works well against the infection. However, the spread is contagious as that of small pox as well. Monkeypox causes symptoms similar to that of smallpox. The initial signs of having contracted the infection includes fever, intense headache, swelling in the lymph nodes, back pain, muscle ache, fatigue and in some cases skin eruptions as well.

Symptoms subside in two to four weeks. Though rare, complications have till date have been seen in only in children or those who a low constitution.

In most cases, only symptomatic management is only needed and use of vaccine has been seen to be only minimal.

Apparently, North America has seen more cases since May of this year, Canada being the latest to have reported a dozen cases of Monkey pox infection.

Britain has confirmed nine cases while the United States verified its first case last week. The person found infected in the US had visited Canada recently. Spain has shown 23 cases until now and is said to spillover from animals itself; not as much as within humans. Ironically, in the UK, those infected had no contact with each other. So, the theory of the spread remains a mystery.