The Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR has issued a warning amid the rapid spread of monkeypox infection, stating that “young children are more prone to this disease, thus its signs will have to be observed.” At the moment, no cases of monkeypox have been reported in India, but the government is on high alert for this ailment.
Meanwhile, Trivitron Healthcare, an Indian commercial health equipment business, has developed an RT-PCR test kit to detect monkeypox infection. This kit will be able to provide results in under an hour.
Outbreak of Monkeypox in 2022
An ongoing monkeypox epidemic was detected on 6 May when a Briton developed symptoms compatible with monkeypox on 29 April 2022 after visiting Nigeria (where the illness is endemic). On 4 May, the Briton returned to the UK, becoming the country’s index case of the outbreak.
Cases were recorded from a rising number of countries and regions beginning on May 18, primarily in Europe, followed by North and South America, the Middle East, and Australia.
Spain Has Become the Monkeypox Epicenter
This year’s monkeypox outbreak is thought to be centred in Spain. Spain had documented 98 cases up to Friday. At the same time, 106 persons in the United Kingdom and 74 in Portugal are suffering from this unusual condition. Monkeypox has also spread to several nations, including Canada, Belgium, France, Germany, Australia, Israel, Italy, and the United States.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) expert Dr David Heyman, two gay sex parties in Spain and Belgium may be to blame for the spread of monkeypox infection among gay males. Monkeypox is not a disease spread through sexual contact (STD). Coming into contact with an infected person during sex, on the other hand, can spread the disease.
WHO Issues Warning to Homosexuals and Gay Men
WHO has also issued an alert due to the fast spreading virus among gay males. According to the health department, if a person exhibits symptoms of monkeypox, avoid skin-to-skin, face-to-face, and sexual contact with him. When you come into contact with the patient, put on a mask and wash your hands.
A pus-filled rash all over the body, fever, swollen lymph nodes, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion are all symptoms of monkeypox.
The WHO’s Key Facts on Monkeypox
Vaccines used in the smallpox eradication programme also offered immunity to monkeypox. Newer vaccinations have been developed, one of which has been licenced for monkeypox prevention.
Monkeypox is caused by monkeypox virus, which is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family.
Monkeypox is often a self-limiting condition, with symptoms lasting 2 to 4 weeks. Severe cases are possible. In recent years, the case fatality ratio has hovered around 3–6%.
Monkeypox is transmitted to people by direct contact with an infected person or animal, or through contact with virus-contaminated material.
The monkeypox virus spreads by close contact with lesions, bodily fluids, respiratory droplets, and infected items such as bedding.
Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that typically occurs in tropical rainforest areas of central and western Africa, but is occasionally transported to other locations.
An antiviral drug intended to treat smallpox has also been approved for use in the treatment of monkeypox.
Monkeypox’s clinical appearance is similar to that of smallpox, a related orthopoxvirus illness that was proclaimed eliminated globally in 1980. Monkeypox is less contagious and causes less severe sickness than smallpox.
Monkeypox is characterised clinically by fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes, and it can result in a variety of medical consequences.
