Health Ministry issues norms to tackle monkeypox

What is the News?

The Ministry of Health has released “Guidelines on Management of Monkeypox Disease”.

What is Monkeypox?

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What is the natural host of Monkeypox?

The natural reservoir of the virus is yet unknown. But certain rodents (including rope squirrels, tree squirrels, Gambian pouched rats, and dormice) and non-human primates are known to be naturally susceptible to monkeypox.

What are the countries in which Monkeypox has been detected so far?

Monkeypox has been reported as endemic in several central and western African countries such as Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone. 

However, cases have also been reported in certain non-endemic countries — The USA, United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, and Italy among others.

What are the key features of the Guidelines on Monkeypox?

A person suspected to have the Monkeypox must have a history of travel to the affected countries in the last 21 days, an unexplained rash and one of the other symptoms.

Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) – a network that tracks infectious diseases in the country – has been asked to remain alert about the cases.

International travellers to countries reporting cases of monkeypox have been advised to not come in close contact with sick persons and dead or live wild animals. They have also been asked not to consume the meat of wild animals or use creams, lotions or powder made of it.

The airport health authorities have been asked to familiarize themselves with symptoms of monkeypox and conduct strict thermal screening and history of travel.

Source: The post is based on the article “Health Ministry issues norms to tackle monkeypox” published in The Hindu on 1st June 2022.