Center Strengthens Safety Measures as WHO Declares Monkeypox a Global Health Emergency
Image credit: Hindustan Times
After reports of monkeypox cases in Sweden and Pakistan, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The Center reported that a joint monitoring group meeting, chaired by the Director General of Health Services and comprising relevant experts, was held to review the situation. Experts urged health authorities to start screening for the deadly infectious disease at key airports in India to help control the spread. The government has assured the public that it is actively monitoring the global monkeypox situation and implementing necessary measures to prevent and control the spread of the disease.
What actually is Mpox?
Monkeypox (or Mpox) is a highly contagious viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus. It can spread between people and from contaminated surfaces. The monkeypox virus can be transmitted to humans from infected animals in areas where the virus is present among wildlife.
Symptoms of the Mpox Virus:
Mpox presents a range of symptoms, including a persistent rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. Most cases resolve within a few weeks with supportive care, though severe cases may involve larger lesions and secondary infections. Available data suggest a mortality rate of 0.1% to 10% among those affected.
How is Mpox transmitted?
Monkeypox is transmitted from person to person through close contact with an infected individual. Close contact can involve face-to-face interaction (such as talking or breathing close to each other), skin-to-skin contact (including sexual contact), mouth-to-mouth contact (such as kissing), or mouth-to-skin contact (such as oral sex or kissing the skin).
Mpox can spread to people through physical contact with an infected animal, such as certain species of monkeys and terrestrial rodents like tree squirrels. The monkeypox virus can be transmitted through eating infected animals if the meat is not cooked properly. Given that various animal species are susceptible to the virus, there is a risk of it spreading from humans to animals in different environments. Therefore, individuals with confirmed or suspected monkeypox should refrain from close physical contact with animals, including pets (such as cats, dogs, hamsters, and gerbils), livestock, and wildlife.
Globally, since 2022, WHO has reported 99,176 cases and 208 deaths due to monkeypox from 116 countries.
According to the World Health Organization’s declaration in 2022, a total of 30 cases of monkeypox were detected in India, with the most recent case reported in March 2024. The Indian Health Ministry has confirmed that there have been no new reported cases of monkeypox in the country as of the present date.
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