5-member task force set up in city to screen suspected monkeypox cases

Gurgaon: The district health department on Sunday formed a task force to track and monitor any cases of monkeypox, with at least four patients in India – the latest being in Delhi – diagnosed with the viral infection so far.
On Saturday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global monkeypox outbreak across 75 nations a public health emergency – the highest alert that the United Nations’ health body can sound.
The five member task force – consisting of health officials – was directed to coordinate with all hospitals in the district, and will need to trace any contacts of a suspected/confirmed case, officials said.
Every suspected patient, who has symptoms similar to that of monkeypox, will be isolated at healthcare facilities until cured or till the doctor decides.
District surveillance officer Jai Prakash has to be informed about any possible or confirmed cases by the hospital authorities. “Surveillance is necessary to trace and treat infected patients at the earliest. All hospitals are directed to report any suspected cases to district surveillance officers. The task force will coordinate with all hospitals on a daily-basis to check the status,” said Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, Gurgaon.
The measures were introduced on a day neighbouring Delhi reported its first monkeypox case, that of a resident who has no recent history of foreign travel. India has diagnosed four patients till now, one in Delhi, and three in Kerala, all who had recently returned from the UAE.
The viral zoonotic disease (jumped from animal carriers to human) occurs primarily in central and west Africa. Until recently, most cases found outside of the African countries were largely exported, or linked to foreign travel. First detected in May, the outbreak this time around has spread locally as well. Around 16,000 cases have been diagnosed world over since then. The symptoms for monkeypox are similar to smallpox. These include fever, headache, fatigue, and itchy rashes/blisters that eventually turn into scabs before falling off in the course of the infection. Treatment includes antivirals and in some cases, smallpox vaccines since the two viruses are similar.
The disease is mostly mild, but can cause severe illness. The viral infection is also not easily transmissible. According to WHO, it mostly spreads through close contact (skin-to-skin or large respiratory droplets) with an infected person or an animal. “It is advisable to always wash hands properly. Officials should also ensure proper isolation and tracing exercise to limit its spread,” said Dr Tushar Tayal, senior consultant for internal medicine at the Narayana Superspeciality Hospital.