None
Skip to mainWhat is monkeypox?
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), monkeypox is a viral zoonotic infection caused by the monkeypox virus. It spreads mostly from human contact.
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?
Some of the most common symptoms of monkeypox are muscle aches, headache, fever, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. "Monkeypox symptoms are like smallpox and chickenpox. At the onset, patients will have fever and enlargement of lymph nodes. After 1-5 days the patient may report rashes on the face, palms or soles. They may have rashes in the cornea leading to blindness", said Dr Piyush Ranjan, Department of Medicine, AIIMS.
The number of rashes leading to lesions can range from one up to several thousand.
Who is at risk of contracting monkeypox?
Those who are in close contact with someone suffering from monkeypox, including sexual contact are at the highest risk. Coming in contact with animals infected with the disease can also transfer the infection.
Are children at risk of getting monkeypox?
Dr Ranjan reveals "the infectivity of monkeypox is less but it can be fatal in children. The COVID-19 infection has more transmissibility, but monkeypox infection occurs after prolonged exposure to an infected person. So the infection rate is very high in COVID and an infected person can infect many. But, monkeypox is less contagious."
How does monkeypox spread?
Monkeypox can spread from person to person contact and also from animal to person contact. In the case of humans, coming through face-to-face, skin-to-skin, mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-skin contact, with another infected person can lead to monkeypox. Animal hosts include rodents and primates. In addition, Dr Ranjan says that "This virus is also transmitted to humans by coming in contact with a dead animal infected with this virus."
How can I protect myself and others against monkeypox?
The necessary precautions that are to be taken to reduce the risk of monkeypox are:
a) Limiting close contact with people who are either suspected or confirmed of having monkeypox or limiting contact with animals who are infected
b) Cleaning and disinfecting contaminated environment and surroundings
c) Seeking medical attention immediately after noticing any symptoms or getting rashes
The government of India has also issued guidelines regarding the monkeypox disease. The guidelines stress the "surveillance and rapid identification of new cases as the key public health measures for outbreak containment, mandating the need to reduce the risk of human-to-human transmission. It explains the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures, IPC at home, patient isolation and ambulance transfer strategies, additional precautions that need to be taken care of and duration of isolation procedures."
In addition, "contacts should be monitored at least daily for the onset of signs/symptoms for a period of 21 days (as per case definition) from the last contact with a patient or their contaminated materials during the infectious period.
The government guideline also urges people to "raise awareness and educate people about the measures for monkeypox virus", like avoiding contact with any material of the sick person, isolation of the infected patient from others, practising good hand hygiene and using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for patients.
🕑 18 Mar, 2024 01:16 PM
Changes in Reimbursement of Children Education Allowance as per NEP 2020
🕑 18 Mar, 2024 01:13 PM
Holiday declare for 14th April, 2024 – Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
🕑 18 Mar, 2024 01:04 PM
Revised Flexible Complementing Scheme for Scientists
🕑 15 Mar, 2024 09:33 AM
Dearness Relief to Central Government pensioners from January 2024
🕑 14 Mar, 2024 09:14 AM
Interest rates for Small Savings for 1st Quarter of FY 2024-25 unchanged
🕑 12 Mar, 2024 03:22 PM
FinMin issues order on DA revision effective from January 1, 2024
🕑 12 Mar, 2024 03:04 PM
Bank Wage Revision:12th Bipartite Settlement & 9th Joint Note Signed
🕑 08 Mar, 2024 10:15 AM
DA Jumps to 50%! Central Govt Employees Get a Raise Just in Time
🕑 08 Mar, 2024 09:40 AM
Promotion via LDCE in case of pending prosecution
🕑 08 Mar, 2024 09:19 AM
Promotion via LDCE in case of pending prosecution
🕑 14 Mar, 2024 02:07 PM
Govt bans 18 vulgar 18 OTT. See the list here
🕑 08 Mar, 2024 01:49 PM
Pension Scheme Gains Traction Across States, Despite Central Hurdles
🕑 20 Feb, 2024 11:17 PM
CGHS rate for general surgery applicable from February 1, 2024
🕑 08 Feb, 2024 10:19 AM
No loan interst change as RBI maintains repo rate at 6.50% for the 6th time
🕑 07 Feb, 2024 08:28 PM
The Evolving Role of Pay Commissions in India: Mandatory or Myth?
🕑 05 Feb, 2024 03:50 PM
How much you take home increase after DA hike?
🕑 03 Feb, 2024 07:59 PM
Guaranteed Benefits in NPS: Election Gambit or Endgame for Retirees?
🕑 03 Feb, 2024 07:46 PM
Budget 2024. Benefit up to ₹ 25000. One in eight taxpayers to benefit