Monkeypox in india: The first case of monkeypox has been reported in India on Monday. The Union Health Ministry says, ‘A separate case of monkeypox virus has been reported in India. This case is a separate case which is similar to the 30 cases previously reported in India since July 2022. It is not currently part of the global health emergency related to clade 1 of monkeypox.’
The ministry further said, ‘This person is a young male who has recently traveled from a country with ampox infection. He is currently kept in isolation. The person’s condition is currently stable and he does not have any other disease.’
The central government has issued an advisory to all states and union territories regarding the global ampox outbreak, urging all officials to take appropriate precautions and provide information about the symptoms and prevention of ampox. This warning has been given at a time when the new strain of ampox is spreading rapidly across the world, due to which WHO has had to declare it a global health emergency for the second time in two years.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had declared this virus a global public health emergency and classified it as a ‘grade 3 emergency’. Which means that it needs immediate attention. Now in such a situation, many people have some questions about this virus. Like what is ampox, how does it spread, what are its symptoms, what is the treatment? We will know the answers to these questions in the article.
1. What is Mpox?
MPox is a viral infection caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), a species of the Orthopoxvirus genus. MPox was formerly known as monkeypox.
Scientists first identified this virus in 1958 when there was an outbreak of ‘pox-like’ disease in monkeys. Mpox belongs to the same family of viruses that causes smallpox.
2. How is ampox spread?
According to the information available so far, ampox is a viral infection that spreads mainly through contact with an infected person or animal. Ampox can spread from one person to another through direct contact with infectious skin or other lesions such as mouth or genitals. Most cases in Central and West Africa have been seen in people who lived in contact with infected animals. It can also spread through contact with an infected person, animal or contaminated substances.
Experts say that this infection can also spread through the use of contaminated items like clothes or linen, 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.
3. What are the symptoms of ampox?
People infected with ampox develop a rash that may appear on the arms, legs, chest, face, or around the mouth or genitals. The rash may form pustules (large white or yellow bumps filled with pus) and crust over before healing. Other symptoms include fever, headache and muscle aches.
4. How long do they live?
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.
4. What is the treatment for ampox?
There is no specific treatment for monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection but WHO has recommended some vaccines for use against MPXV. MPXV vaccines can prevent infection and severe disease but no vaccine is 100 percent effective. Immunity takes several weeks to develop after vaccination.
Getting vaccinated within four days of exposure to ampox gives the best chance of avoiding the disease. Getting vaccinated between four and 14 days after coming into contact with an infected person reduces the severity of the disease.
5. What is the risk of ampox in India?
Regarding the suspected case of monkeypox, the Union Health Ministry said, ‘There is no need for ‘extra worry’ about this. The National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) is looking into this matter.’
The country is fully prepared to deal with such cases and strong arrangements have been made to manage and minimize any potential risk. Health units at airports, ports and land crossings have been put on alert since last month. Laboratories and isolation factories have also been kept ready.
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