Govt Set To Issue Guidelines On Monkeypox Prevention Soon

The decision was taken at a meeting held on Monday attended by officials from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), World Health Organization (WHO), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), clinicians and health ministry to firm up standard operating procedures for travellers who show symptoms of monkeypox after returning from affected countries.

The detailed guidelines will include identifying sick patients at airports, lab tests, symptoms, prevention, surveillance strategies, reporting to hospitals and community awareness. According to WHO, more than 92 cases have been reported from a dozen countries so far. “We should not be worried about monkeypox but vigilant. Ministry of health and ICMR is developing the guidelines for monkeypox with regards to the treatment, prevention, community awareness, signs and symptoms of monkeypox, isolation of sick patients who returned from monkeypox affected countries, surveillance strategy at the airports and sea ports, hospital infection control measures if any suspected cases have been reported and many other preventive measures. So, these are going to be comprehensive guidelines which the ministry of health is likely to release in the coming days,” said Dr Nivedita Gupta, senior scientist of ICMR.

“Common people have to be sensitized about the disease and how to report to the health facility if they show any symptoms. We are expecting the virus would come to India only via international travel, therefore, surveillance at the ports is very important,” said the scientist.

Queries emailed to a spokesperson for ICMR remained unanswered till press time.

Monkeypox originates from animals such as rodents and primates and transmits to people. It is found in Africa, mostly around tropical rainforest regions. The major symptoms are fever with an unexplained acute rash all over the body. Other symptoms include headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle and body aches, back pain and weakness.

The decision was taken at a meeting held on Monday attended by officials from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), World Health Organization (WHO), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), clinicians and health ministry to firm up standard operating procedures for travellers who show symptoms of monkeypox after returning from affected countries.

The detailed guidelines will include identifying sick patients at airports, lab tests, symptoms, prevention, surveillance strategies, reporting to hospitals and community awareness. According to WHO, more than 92 cases have been reported from a dozen countries so far. “We should not be worried about monkeypox but vigilant. Ministry of health and ICMR is developing the guidelines for monkeypox with regards to the treatment, prevention, community awareness, signs and symptoms of monkeypox, isolation of sick patients who returned from monkeypox affected countries, surveillance strategy at the airports and sea ports, hospital infection control measures if any suspected cases have been reported and many other preventive measures. So, these are going to be comprehensive guidelines which the ministry of health is likely to release in the coming days,” said Dr Nivedita Gupta, senior scientist of ICMR.

“Common people have to be sensitized about the disease and how to report to the health facility if they show any symptoms. We are expecting the virus would come to India only via international travel, therefore, surveillance at the ports is very important,” said the scientist.

Queries emailed to a spokesperson for ICMR remained unanswered till press time.

Monkeypox originates from animals such as rodents and primates and transmits to people. It is found in Africa, mostly around tropical rainforest regions. The major symptoms are fever with an unexplained acute rash all over the body. Other symptoms include headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle and body aches, back pain and weakness.