Punjab Health Department issues advisory for monkeypox

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 25

The state Health Department has issued an alert for monkeypox (Mpox) and the district Health Department had been asked to adopt all necessary precautionary measures for the same. Though no case of monkeypox has been reported in the state, all precautionary measures are being adopted. “Human-to-human transmission is known to occur primarily through large respiratory droplets generally requiring a prolonged close contact. It can also be transmitted through direct contact with body fluids or lesion material and indirect contact with lesion material, such as contaminated clothing or linens of an infected person,” said Civil Surgeon Pardeep Mohindra.

“The state Health Department has issued an advisory for the districts and we are following the same in Ludhiana,” he said.

Key symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. Characteristic skin lesions must be identified by the health authorities.

Another medicine expert from the government sector said monkeypox was usually a self-limited disease with symptoms lasting from two to four weeks. Severe cases occur more commonly among children and were related to the extent of virus exposure, patient health status and nature of complications.

Raising awareness of risk factors and educating people about measures they could take to reduce exposure to the virus was the main prevention strategy for monkeypox, the Civil Surgeon said.

There are a number of measures that can be taken to prevent infection with Mpox virus, which include avoid contact with any material, such as bedding, that has been in contact with a sick person. Isolate infected patients from others and practice good hand hygiene after contact with infected animals or humans. Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for patients.

Key symptoms

Key symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. Characteristic skin lesions must be identified by the health authorities.

Surveillance strategy

Once the case is identified:

• Isolate cases to prevent further transmission.
• Provide optimal clinical care.
• Identify & manage contacts
• Protect frontline health workers.
• Effective control and preventive measures based on the identified routes of transmission.