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Monkeypox: Delhi man with no travel history tests positive, government holds high-level meeting

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Amrutha Pagad
Amrutha PagadJul 25, 2022 | 09:21

Monkeypox: Delhi man with no travel history tests positive, government holds high-level meeting

Monkeypox detected in a Delhi resident without foreign travel history. Photo: Getty Images

Monkeypox has arrived in India after outbreaks were reported globally. India has reported four cases of monkeypox so far. And the latest one has concerned the government. A 34-year-old man from Delhi with no international travel history has been detected with monkeypox, the first known case of local transmission.

The Centre held a high-level review meeting on Sunday (July 24) to assess the situation of monkeypox in India. The World Health Organization (WHO) has already declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

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A PHEIC is the highest level of alert which calls for a coordinated international response to contain the outbreak. 

Global cases: According to the US CDC, 16,836 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in 74 countries so far as of July 22, 2022. Germany, Spain, the US, and UK all have reported over 2,000 cases so far with Spain reporting more than 3,000 cases. 

Deaths: So far, only 5 deaths have been reported worldwide since the outbreak started earlier this year. 

Should you be worried? Coming out of a Covid-19 pandemic, it is natural for the world to panic over another outbreak. But unlike the Covid-19 pandemic, the monkeypox outbreak is not as contagious or fatal. Fatality in monkeypox cases is rare and the rate ranges anywhere between 0% and 11%. 

Only children and those who are immunocompromised are more vulnerable than most to the disease. 

Besides, monkeypox is mainly termed a 'self-limited' disease, meaning it doesn't spread easily. The spread of the disease is limited to family members and healthcare workers of the infected individuals. Those who remain in close contact with the patient over a long period of time or are exposed to contaminated animals or objects are more likely to contract the disease.

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But, healthcare workers around the world have noticed that the disease has been largely spread by sexual contact, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). And that's due to close contact. But it doesn't mean that the disease is limited to gay or bisexual men and the WHO says there should be no stigma associated with the disease as a result. 

It is mostly that monkeypox cases were reported during the Pride event in European countries that the association has come to be. Healthcare workers interviewed by the WHO say that it is mostly related to sex clubs and having multiple sexual partners rather than being exclusive to the LGBTQIA community. 

What are the symptoms? The WHO lists these symptoms of monkeypox:

  1. Rashes, spots, ulcers, or blister-like lesions anywhere on the body, but often in the genital area. 
  2. Swollen and painful lymph glands. 
  3. Fever, headache and muscle aches, chills, or exhaustion.

Monkeypox is famously identified through the lymph nodes that develop on the patient's body. But healthcare workers say that in some cases, the lesions may not even develop. 

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Lymph nodes seen on a monkeypox patient. Representative Photo: Getty Images

What should you avoid? The WHO, which interviewed two healthcare workers in Europe about their experience dealing with a spate of monkeypox cases, advised that people limit their sexual partners and avoid sex clubs. MSM should be more careful as the spread has been reported in the social and sexual networks of homosexual groups.  

History of monkeypox: Monkeypox is not a new disease. It was first reported in a human in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since then, some African nations have reported such cases. In 2003, monkeypox was reported in the US, outside of Africa for the first time. 

The current strain of monkeypox has been detected as the West African strain, which is not as severe as the Congo strain. The virus belongs to the family of orthopoxviruses, the same as smallpox, which has been eradicated across the world. Hence, treatments for monkeypox have included smallpox vaccines and medicines. 

Last updated: July 25, 2022 | 09:21
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