The Union Health Ministry has released a list of suggestions on what people should and shouldn’t do to prevent monkeypox as the world grapples with yet another public health emergency of worldwide concern as cases of the disease rise in India. This occurs a day after the UAE WHO representative received a letter from the UAE health ministry requesting that passengers who exhibit symptoms of monkeypox sickness not be permitted to board aircraft in order to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
In a letter to Executive Director and IHR Focal Point, United Arab Emirates, Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Ali Rand, Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry Lav Agarwal mentioned three examples in which the passengers had travelled from the UAE to India and had already shown signs of monkeypox sickness.
Eight instances of monkeypox, including one fatality, have been reported from India thus far. A task team on monkeypox has also been established by the Center to carefully monitor the evolving situation in the nation and choose appropriate response measures to stop the disease’s spread.
List of Dos and Don’ts to Avoid Contracting Monkeypox
Dos
- Isolate infected patients from others
- Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitisers
- When near infected individuals, wear masks and disposable gloves
- Use disinfectants for environmental sanitation
Don’ts
- Don’t share linen, bedding or towels with people who have contracted monkeypox
- Don’t wash soiled linen or laundry of infected persons with those of non-infected individuals
- Don’t attend public events if you exhibit symptoms of monkeypox
- Don’t stigmatize groups of people based on misinformation
What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox (MPX) is a viral zoonotic disease with symptoms similar to smallpox, although with less clinical severity. Monkeypox is usually a self-limited disease with symptoms lasting from 2 to 4 weeks. Severe cases occur more commonly among children and are related to the extent of virus exposure, patient health status and nature of complications. The extent to which asymptomatic infection occurs is unknown.
Monkeypox typically manifests itself with fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications. It is usually a self-limited disease with symptoms lasting for two to four weeks.
The ‘Guidelines on Management of Monkeypox Disease’ issued by the Centre, stated that human-to-human transmission occurs primarily through large respiratory droplets generally requiring prolonged close contact.
It can also be transmitted through direct contact with body fluids or lesions, and indirect contact with lesion material such as through contaminated clothing or linen of an infected person. Animal-to-human transmission may occur by bite or scratch of infected animals or through bush meat preparation.
Who can get monkeypox?
Anyone can have monkeypox if they have had prolonged or repeated contact with an infected individual.
