Monkeypox Virus: Cases, concern, cure and the global report on it, all you should know

Centre has passed order after India reported its second case from southern India, tight vigil at the ports and airports

India News, India News Today, India News Live, India Live Updates, Monkeypox Disease, Virus Causing Monkeypox, Cases of Monkeypox Worldwide, Cases of Monkeypox in India, Monkeypox Symptoms, Cure of Monkeypox, Precautions against Monkeypox, Monkeypox in Kerala- True Scoop
A 31-years-old man in the Kannur district of Kerala became the second confirmed case of monkeypox in India. The man returned from Dubai on the 13th of July and is now being treated at Pariyaram Medical College. India reported its first case of the disease on July, 14th from Kerala itself, when a 35 years old man was diagnosed with the virus upon his arrival from the UAE. Following this development, the centre issued guidelines to ports and airports to keep a strict vigil in the case of international travellers.

“They were advised to ensure strict health screening of all arriving international travellers which can minimise the risk of importation of monkeypox cases into the country. They were advised and re-oriented in the clinical presentation of monkeypox disease as per the ministry of health’s ‘Guidelines for Management of Monkeypox Disease’,” the Centre in its orders said.

But how far the case is sensitive from the Indian perspective, is it a matter of red alert or being cautious? This explainer will clarify all that you have in mind?


Transmission of the disease:

The American health protection agency for the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in its statement on the virus has previously informed that the disease that causes pimples or blisters and flu-like symptoms spread through close contact. That includes direct physical contact with lesions as well as “respiratory secretions” shared through face-to-face interaction, and touching objects that have been contaminated by monkeypox lesions or fluids. The virus may also pass to a foetus through the placenta.


Virus spreading from animals to humans is also possible, either by being scratched or bitten by the infected animal or by consuming the products made from the infected animal. Dr John Brooks, the CDC’s chief medical officer of HIV prevention, told CNN that monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection in the typical sense, but it can be transmitted during sexual and intimate contact, as well as with personal contact and shared bedding and clothing. The CDC also added in its remark on the disease that it is not completely clear whether or not the virus spread through semen or vaginal fluids, but one thing that is certain is the disease can’t spread asymptomatically. Which becomes a bit easy in detecting the infected person.

Its worldwide effect:

The WHO in its last updated information on the virus released on June, 17th informed that a total of 2103 laboratory cases have been confirmed, with one probable infection and one death has been reported to date since the beginning of the year. The world health body said that globally around 60 countries have seen the infection by far. A Reuters tally from 15 July puts the total cases of monkeypox at 11,500. In Europe, Austria recorded 80 cases whereas Belgium had a total of 224 cases. France and Germany had a total infection count of 912 and 1,859 respectively. Spain had another 2,447 cases of monkeypox recorded until 12 July.

The United Kingdom had 1,856 confirmed cases as of 14 July, including 1,778 in England, 46 in Scotland, 12 in Northern Ireland and 20 in Wales. The United States as of 14 July had recorded 1,469 cases of monkeypox. European Union health commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, reacting to the spread of the disease in the area was quoted as telling Reuters, “I am concerned by the increasing number of monkeypox cases in the EU.”

Where should our concern lie?

Largely health experts all around the globe are somehow or the other of the unanimous view. They say that monkeypox is a self-limiting disease, which means it will get adjusted by itself and will not leave huge harmful effects on the patient’s health. A virologist associated with the University of Oxford Dr Shahid Jameel informed about the virus that for this to transmit there is a requirement of close contact that for human-to-transmission to happen, there is no big deal the spread can be fairly halted. “This is something we definitely need to take seriously. We don't know the scope and the potential of it yet, but we have to act like it will have the capability of spreading much more widely than it's spreading right now,” Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) told CNN last Saturday.

How can we protect ourselves?

By far there is no treatment available for the same, the WHO recommends supportive treatment depending on the symptoms. It is advised to isolate if you are affected by it or stay away from those who are infected by it. Maintaining hygiene is the foremost thing you should take care of if the premises has been contaminated by the infected person.
Lastly, if you feel that you might have got infected with it, check on the symptoms and seek the necessary medical attention as soon as possible to evade future repercussions, take a test and start the medications under the Doctor’s guidance.

 

Trending