• By Nidhi Giri
  • Sun, 18 Aug 2024 09:53 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Mpox Virus: Amid concerns over Monkeypox, there has been a demand for strict testing and quarantine protocol at the Mumbai airport for passengers from high-risk countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). This declaration follows a sharp rise in mpox cases across Africa, where 17,500 infections and 460 deaths have been recorded in 2024 alone.

The virus has now reached Pakistan, former Maharashtra CM and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan said on Saturday, urging the government to take proactive steps to prevent its spread in India.

The Congress leader has written to Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde in this regard and informed about the same on his X handle. "It has reached our neighbourhood. We have to act. I have written to the CM to implement a strict testing and quarantine protocol at the Mumbai airport for all the incoming passengers from high-risk countries," the Chavan said on X.

Timely action was necessary as any delay could lead to severe consequences, he said.

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The Union Health Ministry on Saturday said there were no reported cases of Monkeypox in India even though cautionary measures will be put in place to prevent and control the spread of the disease.

Though the possibility of a few imported cases being detected in the coming weeks was not ruled out, risk of a large outbreak with sustained transmission is low for India at present, it said.

In a meeting chaired by Union Health Minister J P Nadda, it was noted that Monkeypox infections are usually self-limiting lasting between 2-4 weeks and patients generally recover with supportive management.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad has been put on high alert for Mpox virus. Given Hyderabad’s status as a key destination for African students pursuing higher education, awareness of mpox and its risks is crucial for the general public.

What Is Mpox?

Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease, first identified in 1958 in research monkeys and later in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The virus, caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), presents symptoms similar to smallpox, including fever, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, body aches, and a skin rash that appears 1-3 days after the onset of fever.

However, it is generally less severe than smallpox, with two primary clades: Clade I, which has a mortality rate of 10 per cent, and Clade II, with a 0.1 per cent fatality rate.

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The virus spreads through direct contact with an infected person, particularly through body fluids or lesions and sexual contact. Unlike Covid-19, mpox does not spread through the respiratory route. Therefore, avoiding direct contact with infected individuals and practising safe sexual behaviours can help break the transmission chain.

Meanwhile, the WHO also urged vaccine manufacturers to ramp up production to curb the spread of mpox, particularly the more dangerous Clade I, which is spreading beyond its endemic regions. The WHO is also encouraging countries with vaccine stockpiles to donate them to those currently battling outbreaks.