WHO declares Monkeypox a public health emergency; Delhi reports its first case

NEW DELHI: New Delhi on Sunday, July 24, reported its first case of monkeypox virus, making it India’s fourth case so far. Three cases of monkeypox had earlier been detected from the state of Kerala. But unlike the first three cases where patients had history of recent international travel, the patient in New Delhi has never travelled outside India. According to reports, the 31-year old man had visited Himachal Pradesh before falling ill, which suggests local spread (within India) of the monkeypox virus. So far, over 17,000 people across 74 countries have been reported with the monkeypox infection since the outbreak started in early May this year in countries where the disease is not an endemic.

What is Monekypox?        

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by monkeypox virus, the origin of which still remains unknown. The Monkeypox virus is of the same family of viruses as Variola virus that causes smallpox. The first human case of monkeypox was reported in 1970 in a 9-month child in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Prior to the current outbreak, the virus was limited in the nations of central and western Africa where the infection is an endemic.

There are two known strains of the monkeypox virus – the Congo strain and the West African strain. The Congo strain is known to be more fatal than the West African strain. While the Congo strain has the mortality rate of 10%, the West African strain has a lower mortality rate of 1%.

2022 Outbreak

Since early May 2022, cases of monkeypox infection have been reported from countries where the disease is not endemic; meanwhile, several endemic nations continue to report its cases. Most confirmed cases of the infection across the world reported travel history to countries in Europe and North America, instead of the west of central Africa region, according to the World Health Organisation.

European nation Spain had reported 3125 cases of the Monkeypox viral infection by July 22. The United Kingdom had reported 2208 cases and the United States of America had reported 2890 cases by that date. Out of the total 16,836 cases of infection reported across the world by July 22, 16,593 cases were reported in countries that have not historically reported monkeypox.

Symptoms

Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but are milder; and monkeypox is rarely fatal. The infection is not related to chickenpox.

Symptoms include Fever, Headache, Swollen lymph nodes, Chiils, Muscle aches and backache, Exhaustion, A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus.

Prevention

The monkeypox virus can spread from one person to another in various ways including direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs or bodily fluids; respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact; touching items that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids such as clothing or lines; from pregnant people to their fetus; from infected animals. 

Following steps have been suggested to prevent getting monkeypox:

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like Monkeypox
• Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with Monkeypox.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

The WHO states that Monkeypox is usually self-limiting and lasts for a period of two to four weeks, but may be severe in some individuals, such as children, pregnant women or persons with immune suppression due to other health conditions.

On Saturday, July 23, the WHO sounded its highest level of alarm for monkeypox as it declared the disease a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern’, after nine members of the expert committee of WHO voted against the declaration and only six were in favor. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO said that according to the assessment, the risk of Monkeypox is moderate globally and in all regions, except in Europe. He also said that one of the most powerful tools against Monkeypox is information, and therefore, “The more information people at risk of Monkeypox have, the more they are able to protect themselves.”