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Avoid Eating Bushmeat, Using Creams Derived From Animals: India On High Alert Over Monkeypox Outbreak, Centre Issues Fresh Guidelines

In the 'Guidelines on Management of Monkeypox Disease' issued to states and union territories, the health ministry mentioned the below-mentioned points:

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Written By: Satata Karmakar | Published : June 1, 2022 2:35 PM IST

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Monkeypox: Avoid Eating Bushmeat, Using Creams Derived From Animals, Says Govt

Amid a steady surge in the cases associated with another virulent virus, Monkeypox, the government on Tuesday issued fresh guidelines directing district surveillance units to consider even one such case as an outbreak and initiating a detailed investigation through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme. Monkeypox virus which causes this infection was first identified in Africa in 1958. The virus belongs to the family of smallpox viruses.

Monkeypox Management: Centre Issues Fresh Guidelines

In the 'Guidelines on Management of Monkeypox Disease' issued to states and union territories, the health ministry mentioned the below-mentioned points:

  1. Proper surveillance and rapid identification of new cases as the key public health measures for outbreak containment.
  2. The government mandated the need to reduce the risk of human-to-human transmission.
  3. It also stated that India needs to be prepared in view of the increasing reports of cases in non-endemic countries even as no case of monkeypox virus has been reported in the country to date.
  4. The government urged states to track all the clusters of infections and the sources of infections as soon as possible in order to isolate cases to prevent further transmission.
  5. It asked the state governments to provide optimal clinical care to the patients, and
  6. Identify and manage contacts and protect frontline health workers and effective control and preventive measures based on the identified routes of transmission.
  7. PPE to be donned before collecting the specimens should include- coveralls/gowns, N-95 mask, head cap, booties/shoe-cover, face shield/safety goggles, and double pair of gloves.
  8. The patient should be isolated in an isolation room of the hospital/at home in a separate room with separate ventilation, and
  9. He or she should wear a triple layer mask while the skin lesions should be covered to the best extent possible (long sleeves, long pants) to minimize the risk of contact with others.
  10. Patients managed at home should not leave the home except for medical care and no visitors should be allowed at home.
  11. Healthy household members should limit contact with the patient.
  12. Patients should wear a surgical mask, especially those who have respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, sore throat).
  13. If this is not feasible, other household members should consider wearing a surgical mask when in the presence of the patient.
  14. All this is to be continued until all lesions have resolved and scabs have completely fallen off, as the guidelines recommended.

What is a confirmed case? According to the experts, a confirmed case is considered when a laboratory confirms the presence of the monkeypox virus (detection of unique sequences of viral DNA either by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or sequencing) in a sample.

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How Does The Virus Transmits?

The human-to-human transmission of the monkeypox virus occurs primarily through large respiratory droplets which usually require prolonged close contact. The virus can also transmit through direct contact with body fluids or lesion material, and indirect contact with lesion material, such as through contaminated clothing or linens of an infected person.

Apart from this, the animal-to-human transmission of this is also possible. It may transmit via any bite or scratch of infected animals like small mammals including rodents (rats, squirrels) and non-human primates (monkeys, apes) or through bush meat preparation.

Who Will Be Considered 'Suspected' of Monkeypox Virus?

An individual of any age having a history of travel to the affected countries within the last 21 days presenting with symptoms like - an unexplained acute rash, swollen lymph nodes, fever, headaches, body aches and profound weakness is to be considered to be a 'suspected case'.

"Even one case of monkey pox is to be considered as an outbreak. A detailed investigation by the Rapid Response Teams needs to be initiated through IDSP. Report any suspected case immediately to the DSU/State Surveillance Units (SSUs) and CSU (Central Surveillance Unit), which shall report the same to the Directorate General of Health Services and send the samples as per the guidelines to the designated laboratories," the document said.

What Medicines Are Recommended?

According to the government, one who shows up symptoms of monkeypox can take Paracetamol for fever, apply topical Calamine lotion or take antihistaminics for itching, warm saline gargles/ oral topical anti-inflammatory gel for oral ulcers and take a nutritious diet.

In case of skin rashes, the guidelines advise cleaning with simple antiseptic, applying Mupirocin Acid/Fucidin, for the skin rash and covering it with light dressing if extensive lesions are present and not touching/ scratching them.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Satata Karmakar

Satata Karmakar

Satata Karmakar is a health journalist and Assistant News Editor at TheHealthSite.com with over a decade of experience in digital and print media. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, she has previously worked with leading media organisations including ... Read More