[Answered] Monkeypox may not become the next Covid, but it has the potential to cause similar significant harm to India’s population. Highlight the factors behind the spread of monkeypox. What measures should India take to contain the disease?

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa and is occasionally exported to other regions. Monkeypox belongs to the orthopoxvirus, which is a genus of viruses that also includes the variola virus which causes smallpox. Human-to-human transmission is very limited.

Factors behind the transmission of monkeypox:

• The first cluster of human monkeypox infections outside of Africa occurred in the United States in 2003. A multi-state outbreak was attributed to close contact with infected prairie dogs acquired as pets. The ultimate source of infection was found to be imported Gambian rats that transmitted the infection to the prairie dogs.
• Most reported cases in the recent outbreak have presented through sexual health or other health services in primary or secondary health care facilities, with a history of travel primarily to countries in Europe, and North America.
• The unexpected appearance of monkeypox in several regions in the initial absence of epidemiological links to areas that have historically reported monkeypox.
• Several travel-associated cases had been reported in the United Kingdom, Israel, Singapore, and the U.S. among individuals who had visited Nigeria.

Measures to contain the disease:

• Surveillance and rapid identification of new cases is critical for outbreak containment.
• Samples taken from people and animals with suspected monkeypox virus infection should be handled by trained staff working in suitably equipped laboratories.
• Patient specimens must be safely prepared for transport with triple packaging in accordance with WHO guidance for transport of infectious substances.
• Captive animals that are potentially infected with monkeypox should be isolated from other animals and placed into immediate quarantine.
• International passengers should avoid close contact with sick people, contact with dead or alive wild animals and others.
• Training for monkeypox prevention should be held in a comprehensive manner and create Monkeypox help desk contact numbers.
• Isolation systems should be set up at the districts level and those showing symptoms should stay at home.

Improved surveillance and response, raising awareness of the disease can be helpful in containing monkeypox. The key policymakers should make efforts towards increased preparedness and response capacity for disease outbreaks.