Monkeypox Spread Causes Scare, WHO Says Be Vigilant

Globally 80 confirmed and 50 suspected monkeypox cases have been detected so far in 11 countries according to a statement released by WHO on Friday. The spread is largely being seen in European countries, North America and Australia.

“The virus is endemic in some animal populations in a number of countries, leading to occasional outbreaks among local people and travelers. The recent outbreaks reported across 11 countries so far are atypical, as they are occurring in non-endemic countries,” the global health agency said in a press statement on Friday.

“Monkeypox has been reported in 11 countries, beyond the ones where it's endemic. WHO is working with experts to assess the situation, expand surveillance, contact tracing, accurate information and support are key to stop the spread,” the WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted.

According to the media reports, No monkeypox case has been reported in India so far but seeing the spread scale the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandavaiya has given directions to the National Centre for Disease Control and the ICMR to keep a close watch on the situation. The Union health ministry has also directed airport and port health officers to be vigilant, the reports said.

What is Monkeypox and what are its symptoms?

Monkeypox is caused by the monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. It is a viral zoonotic disease that typically has its origins in the tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa and is occasionally exported to other regions. 

It is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, or with material contaminated with the virus. The virus is similar to smallpox but is milder in effect. It typically presents clinically with fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications.

The WHO also held a meeting of the Strategic & Technical Advisory Group on Infectious Hazards with Pandemic and Epidemic Potential [STAG-IH]) to share information on the disease and response strategies on Friday to assess the spread and said, ”Monkeypox spreads differently from Covid-19. WHO encourages people to stay informed from reliable sources, such as national health authorities, on the extent of the outbreak in their community (if any), symptoms and prevention.”

Although monkeypox is a self-limited disease with symptoms that last from 2 to 4 weeks, severe cases can still occur. In recent times, the case fatality ratio has been around 3-6 per cent, the global health agency reported.