The world battling the corona epidemic is now increasingly vulnerable to monkeypox. The disease has spread to 15 countries within just 15 days. On Friday, Belgium became the first country to make a 21-day quarantine period mandatory for monkeypox patients. At the same time, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that even one case of this disease in any country will be considered an outbreak.
On the other hand, India has also become alert seeing the rapid spread of monkeypox. On Monday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation of Mumbai has prepared a 28-bed isolation ward at Kasturba Hospital for suspected patients of monkeypox. However, not a single case of this disease has been found in the country so far.
In which countries has monkeypox spread so far?
Cases of monkeypox have been reported in the UK, USA, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Australia, Canada, Belgium, Netherlands, Israel, Austria, and Switzerland. In just 2 weeks, the number of cases has crossed 100. However, not a single death has been reported from this disease so far.
The government of India is also in action mode
The concern of the central government regarding the monkeypox has also increased. Because of the rapidly spreading infection, an alert has been issued to the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The Health Ministry has directed the officials of airports and seaports to immediately isolate any sick travelers who have returned after traveling to monkeypox-affected countries and send samples to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune for testing.
Higher risk to pregnant women and children
According to the WHO, a rare infection like monkeypox usually gets better on its own, but it can prove to be serious in some people. Such people include young children, pregnant women, and people with very weak immunity. Children younger than 5 years are more prone to it.
The WHO is also concerned that most of the people who are confirmed with monkeypox have no connection to African countries. This virus is mostly found in Central and West African countries. It is common to find cases in countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and DR Congo.
What is monkeypox, and how does it spread?
Monkeypox is a viral infection that was first detected in a captive monkey in 1958. Its infection in humans was confirmed for the first time in 1970. Its virus is a member of the family of smallpox viruses.
Monkeypox infection can spread through the eyes, nose, and mouth. It is also spread by touching the patient's clothes, utensils, and bedding. Apart from this, monkeypox can also be spread by the biting of animals such as monkeys, rats, and squirrels or by touching their blood and body fluids.
symptoms of monkeypox
According to the WHO, the symptoms of monkeypox can appear from the 5th day to the 21st day of infection. Initial symptoms are flu-like. These include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, shivering, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. After this, pus-filled pimples start appearing on the face, which spread to other parts of the body as well and after a few days dry up and fall off.
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