In the backdrop of reports of Monkeypox cases in non-endemic countries, the Union Health Ministry had issued Guidelines on Management of Monkeypox Disease to ensure advance preparedness across the country. The step was prompted by a suspected case of monkeypox in Ghaziabad which however, was later found negative. A 5-year-old girl's samples were sent for testing to ICMR NIV Pune to detect if she was infected by monkeypox after she complained of itching and rashes. To good luck, the girl has tested negative for monkeypox according to the National Institute of Virology in Pune.
The guidelines recommend that contacts be monitored every day for the onset of signs/symptoms for a period of 21 days (as per case definition) from the last contact with a patient or their contaminated materials during the infectious period. Suspected cases of monkeypox include a person of any age with a history of travel to affected countries within the last 21 days and presenting an unexplained acute rash and one or more of symptoms, including swollen lymph nodes, fever, head/body ache and profound weakness.The guidelines explained in detail about raising awareness and educating people about the measures for monkeypox virus-like avoiding contact with any material of the sick person, isolation of the infected patient from others, practising good hand hygiene and using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for patients.
After the monkeypox outbreak, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has rightfully decided to take quick action so that the spread of the virus can be stopped. The WHO has shared key measures to stop the spread of the disease. And this is very critical as we are in a situation where we can use public health tools for early identification, a WHO official said adding that it is extremely essential to stop the spread in the non-endemic countries.
The WHO official said that the first step is to raise awareness about what monkeypox is about and what it isn't and we have to expand surveillance.The second is to stop human-to-human transmission of monkeypox – We can do this in the non-endemic countries And this is very critical as we are in a situation where we can use public health tools of early identification; isolation of cases, supported isolation cases, talking with communities and listening to communities, and engaging with communities to be a part of the solution. The official added that the third is that we also want to protect frontline workers. Anyone who is out there taking samples for testing or to take care of individuals want to ensure that they have the right information and that they have the right personal protection equipment and we want to utilize all the countermeasures that are in place.
Fourth is to utilise countermeasures -There are antivirals and vaccines but we have to utilize these appropriately for those who are most at risk in an equitable fashion, the WHO official said. Lastly, overarching is to advance our understanding of what monkeypox is. So we are going to have a big global meeting to discuss R&D, research, from everything from epidemiology, all the way through diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine
