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.