WHO is holding an emergency meeting on Friday after the recent outbreak of Monkeypox, a viral infection which has been spreading in Africa since the 1970s but this time it has reached Europe and the Americas.
Cases have been reported in many European countries such as Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Portugal as well as in the United States, Canada and Australia also.
Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on infectious Hazards with Pandemic and Epidemic Potential (STAG-IH), is the WHO committee, which advises on the infection risks that could prove detrimental to global health.
What is Monkeypox?
It was first found in monkeys; it spreads through a close contact with the infected person and largely it has been locked in the African continent for decades but this time it has reached different parts of the world.
Though, scientists have asked people not to panic as it is unexpected that it will evolve into a pandemic. Infected people may feel mild viral illness and rashes on their body.
Spread:
“However, it is very unlikely that this epidemic will last long. The cases can well be isolated via contact tracing and there are also drugs and effective vaccines that can be used if necessary” described Fabian Leendertz.
There are no vaccines for Monkeypox but Smallpox vaccines are very effective. Africa has been facing Monkeypox cases for many decades. Nigeria had an outbreak in 2017. Some cases in Europe are being traced to their travel history in Africa while others have no travel history to Africa.
On May 7 England reported the first European Monkeypox case, who returned from Nigeria.
It has been observed that many cases are being reported among men who identify themselves as gay or they have sex with other men. This has not been proven but it’s been observed in some cases.
India’s response to Monkeypox scare:
India has stepped up its surveillance system on international airports to spot potential Monkeypox infected people. Samples are being collected of people, coming from the African continent who show any symptoms of Monkeypox.
“A detailed SOP has been issued to officers manning all international entry points that are the first such screening guidelines for monkeypox issued in the country, for international passengers coming from African countries” said a union health minister.
So far, some potentially infected people’s samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune. It has been asked that all samples should be sent to a Bio safety level 4 laboratory for testing.
Can it become a pandemic?
Some reported cases don’t have a travel history or contact with infected people. It goes in to prove in that it has been spreading from a significant time.
Monkeypox is usually mild and most people recover very easily within a week. There are two strains of Monkeypox, the first is the Congo strain and the west African state. The Congo strain is more deadly than the West African strain. So far only West Africa Strain has been identified. According to WHO Monkeypox is likely to develop more severe illness in children than the adult.
There have been larger outbreaks of Monkeypox before in 2001 and 2002 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There is a tiny possibility that this outbreak may have been caused by a new strain because the spread of the virus is wider this time. Samples are still in process so nothing can be said with certainty.
Researchers are of the belief that like all previous outbreak can also be contained by contact tracing and precautions, and there are vaccines available too. It does mean that possibility of a pandemic is completely ruled out but scientists think that Science is not pointing towards a direction where Monkeypox turn into a pandemic of Covid 19 proportion.
To be on the safe side Monkeypox should be dealt with the seriousness and in a scientific way. The world cannot afford two raging pandemics.
Edited By: Aaradhana Singh
Read More – WHO says Monkeypox cases confirmed in 12 countries
