Hosps to screen patients with travel history for monkeypox

Gurgaon: All hospitals in the city should screen OPD patients and their attendants with recent travel history to countries with monkeypox outbreaks for signs of the infection, the health department said on Monday.
“So far, no cases have been reported in India but with new cases being detected in various countries, the chances of this disease occurring here cannot be ruled out. So necessary surveillance has to be taken care of and strict vigilance on travellers from countries with positive cases,” said Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, Gurgaon.
Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of central and West Africa, where it is endemic to animals. It has been reported in other regions, but most of the cases were exported.
Since mid-May, around 90 patients have been diagnosed in a dozen countries, including the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Sweden and Israel. The original cases in this outbreak were linked to west or central Africa but several cases have no connection, indicating local transmission.
Monkeypox normally causes mild illness and is not easily transmissible. According to World Health Organization, it mostly spreads through close contact (skin-to-skin or large respiratory droplets) with an infected person or an animal.
Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and itchy rashes/blisters that eventually turn into scabs before falling off. It is treated with antivirals and in some cases, smallpox vaccines since the two viruses are similar.
On Monday, the health department directed that all suspected cases be isolated at designated facilities until fully cured or for the duration decided by a doctor. There are no isolation units for monkeypox patients till now, but if symptoms are identified, hospitals can use Covid isolation wards that aren’t occupied, officials said.
Any suspected or positive case has to be reported to the district surveillance officer, the CMO said.
India is among the countries that residents of monkeypox endemic nations visit for affordable medical treatments.Officials are concerned that cases can rise with the increasing trend of travel
Experts said there was no reason to worry as yet. “Don’t press the panic button. Its complications are rare and seen mainly in children and those with weak immunity,” said DB Saharan, former director of health services, Haryana.