In view of the growing threat of Mpox in the world, there is an alert in India as well. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it an international public health emergency. Meanwhile, officials said on Tuesday that the Delhi government has directed to set up isolation rooms for Mpox in its three hospitals. However, no case has been reported so far.
There will be isolation arrangements in these hospitals
A senior health department official told news agency PTI that ‘instructions have been given to set up isolation rooms in 3 Delhi government hospitals – LNJP, GTB and Baba Saheb Ambedkar. He said that LNJP has been designated as the nodal facility, two other hospitals are on standby. Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital will have a total of 20 isolation rooms for patients. GTB Hospital and Baba Saheb Ambedkar will have 10 rooms each.
Officials said- we are alert
Delhi health officials said that there is no need to panic and the government is fully prepared. Let us tell you that WHO has said in a statement that since 2022, 99,176 cases of ampox have been reported in 116 countries globally and 208 deaths have been recorded.
Also read: Ampox disease has become a global health emergency, why most infectious diseases keep spreading from Africa and Asia?
What is Mpox?
Ampox is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the Orthopoxvirus genus. Ampox was previously known as monkeypox. The virus was first identified by scientists in 1958 when an outbreak of ‘pox-like’ disease occurred in monkeys.
How is ampox spread?
Ampox is a viral infection that spreads primarily through contact with an infected person or animal. Ampox can spread from person to person through direct contact with infectious skin or other lesions such as the mouth or genitals. Most cases in central and western Africa have been seen in people who had contact with infected animals. Experts say that the infection can also spread through the use of contaminated items such as clothing or linens, common items used in tattoo shops, parlors or other public places. The virus can also spread from animals to humans through infected animals biting, scratching, eating or other activities with animals.
what are its symptoms
People infected with ampox often develop a rash that may appear on the arms, legs, chest, face or around the mouth or genitals. These rashes eventually form pustules (large white or yellow bumps filled with pus) and crust over before healing. Other symptoms include fever, headache and muscle pain. Lymph nodes may also swell as the body tries to fight off the virus and in rare cases the virus can be life-threatening. An infected person can infect many people from the time the initial symptoms progress to a rash and then recovery.
How long do the symptoms last?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the symptoms of ampox start appearing within 21 days of exposure to the virus. The time between exposure to ampox and appearance of symptoms is 3 to 17 days. During this time, the person does not show any symptoms. But after the completion of this time, the effect of the virus starts appearing.
