HYDERABAD: The World Health Organisation on Thursday declared Mpox as the public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) on Thursday, following an outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other countries in Africa.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “ The emergence of a new clade of mpox, its rapid spread in eastern DRC, and the reporting of cases in several neighbouring countries are very worrying. On top of outbreaks of other mpox clades in DRC and other countries in Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives.”
The Mpox, previously known as MonkeyPox is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus, the same family of viruses that includes the variola virus which causes smallpox.
Dr K Krishna Swaroop Reddy, senior consultant, Pediatrics and Neonatology, explaining the viral infection, said, “MPox is endemic in several countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nigeria, and Cameroon. In these areas, the disease occurs sporadically with occasional outbreaks, particularly in rural or forested regions. Common symptoms of MPox can be fever, intense headache, muscle pain, back pain, swollen lymph nodes - one of the key distinguishing features from smallpox, chills and exhaustion, rash which develops 1-3 days after the fever and often starts on the face before spreading to other parts of the body, including the palms, soles, and mucous membranes. The rash is usually painful before it scabs over”.
The mode of transmission is direct contact with blood, bodily fluids or cutaneous/mucosal lesions of infected animals or humans. It can also spread through bites or scratches from infected animals, and human to human transmission from close contact with respiratory secretions, droplet respiratory particles during prolonged face-to-face contact has also been observed.
An antiviral medication specifically approved for the treatment of smallpox and monkeypox can reduce the severity and duration of the illness. In severe cases, hospitalisation may be required for monitoring and treatment of complications such as secondary bacterial infections, pneumonia, or sepsis. Vaccination within four days of exposure may prevent the onset of the disease or reduce its severity”, Dr Krishna added.
High risk groups include children, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immune systems.
So far no cases have been reported in India and guidelines from the ministry of health for precautionary measures are also awaited.
Dr Ravinder Naik, Director of Public Health and Family Welfare told TNIE, “The WHO has declared MPox as the global health emergency and it may also issue guidelines to the government of India in the days ahead as to what protocols have to be followed. We are waiting for further course of action and guidelines and advisories in this situation and once we receive the communication, we will ensure effective implementation of the same.”
Viral disease
The Mpox, previously known as MonkeyPox is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus, the same family of viruses that includes the variola virus which causes smallpox. High risk groups include children, pregnant women.