Monkeypox: Task force formed to monitor virus situation in country

A task force on monkeypox has been constituted to closely monitor the emerging situation in the country and decide on response initiatives to tackle the spread of the disease official sources said on Monday It will also provide guidance to the government on expansion of diagnostic facilities in the country and explore emerging trends related to vaccination for the disease the sources told PTIA 22yearold man who recently returned to Kerala from the UAE allegedly died due to monkeypox on Saturday India has reported a total of four cases of the disease so farThe decision to constitute the task force was taken at a highlevel meeting held on July 26 at the level of the principal secretary to the prime minister to review the ongoing public health preparedness in the countryThe task force will be headed by Dr V K Paul NITI Aayog member healthThe National Aids Control Organisation and the Directorate General of Health Services in the Health Ministry have been asked to work on a targeted communication strategy to promote timely reporting detection of cases and management of cases an official source saidInstructions were given to operationalise the Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR network of labs and make arrangements for requisite diagnostics of monkeypox diseaseAlso Read Monkeypox Causes symptoms prevention and treatmentThe World Health Organisation WHO recently declared monkeypox a global public health emergency of international concern Globally over 16000 cases of monkeypox have been reported from 75 countriesThe Union Health Ministry has undertaken a number of initiatives which includes strengthening of health screening at Points of Entry and operationalisation of 15 laboratories under the ICMR to undertake testing for monkeypox diseaseIt also issued comprehensive guidelines on the disease covering both public health as well as clinical management aspects and regular interaction with states were held virtually as well as Central multidisciplinary teams were deployed to affected statesAccording to the WHO monkeypox is a viral zoonosis a virus transmitted to humans from animals with symptoms similar to smallpox although clinically less severeMonkeypox typically manifests itself with fever rash and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications It is usually a selflimited disease with symptoms lasting for two to four weeksThe Guidelines on Management of Monkeypox Disease issued by the Centre stated that humantohuman transmission occurs primarily through large respiratory droplets generally requiring prolonged close contactIt can also be transmitted through direct contact with body fluids or lesions and indirect contact with lesion material such as through contaminated clothing or linen of an infected person Animaltohuman transmission may occur by bite or scratch of infected animals or through bush meat preparationThe incubation period is usually from six to 13 days and the case fatality rate of monkeypox has historically ranged up to 11 per cent in the general population and higher among children In recent times the case fatality rate has been around three to six per centThe symptoms include lesions which usually begin within one to three days from the onset of fever lasting for around two to four weeks and are often described as painful until the healing phase when they become itchy A notable predilection for palm and soles is characteristic of monkeypox the guidelines statedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever