Mpox Alert: India Confirms First Monkeypox Case, Echoes COVID-19 Pandemic Concerns

India is on high alert after confirming its first Mpox case of the year on Monday. Let's go back to 2020 and see how the country responded when COVID-19 first emerged.

The Union Health Ministry on Monday confirmed India's first Mpox case of the year. In a press release, the government stated that a 26-year-old man from Haryana's Hisar with a recent travel history to a Mpox-infected nation has tested positive for the virus. He was admitted to the Delhi government-run LNJP Hospital on Saturday with symptoms like skin rashes and red boils. His test reports have confirmed that he is infected with mpox virus clade 2.

This news has left health professionals worried, raising concerns about the country's preparedness to tackle another COVID-like pandemic. As the world is still reeling from the devastating impact of COVID-19, the emergence of Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) has sparked fears of a potential health crisis in the upcoming days.

As we navigate this new challenge, it is essential to take a look at the lessons we have learned from the dangerous COVID-19 pandemic, which was first confirmed in India in January 2020. The virus killed millions of lives globally and infected almost every individual. In this article, we take a close look at the key events and milestones that unfolded during the COVID-19 pandemic in India, and how they have prepared us to tackle the Monkeypox outbreak.

COVID-19 Pandemic In India: How Things Unfolded After First Case

On January 30, 2020, India reported its first case of coronavirus, a 20-year-old student who had returned from Wuhan, China. The virus called COVID-19, has the potential to evade the human immunity system and infect the lungs in a way that can damage the organ and kill the individual with signs of severe pneumonia. When the virus entered the country, the rest of the world was already battling this dangerous and lethal strain.

The coronavirus causing COVID-19 spread rapidly in the country, infecting lakhs of people and claiming thousands of lives. With no designated vaccines for months post-pandemic hit the nation, the government response to the pandemic was initially slow, but it eventually ramped up its efforts to contain the spread of the virus. The country implemented a nationwide lockdown, increased testing, and vaccination efforts, and established COVID-19 hospitals and treatment centres.

However, this might not be the case for the Mpox virus outbreak. In a statement issued to the media, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has clarified that Mpox will never be the next COVID and that there are very minimal chances of it becoming a pandemic. Even then, taking cognizance of the past history of virus outbreaks in the country, the government has already taken measures to contain the spread of the Mpox virus, including contact tracing, testing, and isolation of suspected cases. The Union Health Ministry has also issued guidelines for the management of monkeypox cases, which include the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), vaccination, and treatment protocols.

Mpox Vs COVID-19: Understanding the Key Differences

While both COVID-19 and Mpox are contagious diseases, there are significant differences between the two. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which spreads primarily through respiratory droplets of an infected individual. Monkeypox, on the other hand, is a viral disease caused by the mpox virus, which spreads only through close contact with an infected person. This includes coming in contact with the infected individual's respiratory droplets, contact with contaminated surfaces, and through vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks.

Another key difference is the severity of the two diseases. COVID-19 has a relatively low mortality rate, with most cases being mild or asymptomatic. Monkeypox, however, has a higher mortality rate, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that the disease can be fatal in up to 10% of cases. This, however, doesn't tell us that Mpox is more dangerous than COVID-19.

Mpox Pandemic In India: Are We Ready If This Happens?

As discussed above, the global health body has confirmed that there are minimal to zero chances for Mpox virus to trigger a pandemic in the country. However, just to tackle any unwanted situation, and keeping in mind India's experience with COVID-19, the country is actively responding to each and every development about the Mpox virus.

The government has released fresh guidelines for the states to contain the spread of the virus and has also established robust healthcare infrastructure, including designated hospitals and beds to handle the cases. The country has also developed a strong contact tracing and testing system, which has been instrumental in containing the spread of COVID-19.

States and union territories have been urged to identify hospitals to prep isolation facilities and stand ready to receive suspected and confirmed cases, which will need increased resources. It is "crucial", the government also said to guard against "undue panic amongst the masses".

Lastly, the Union Ministry has asked states and UTs to avoid any kind of spread of panic among people, "it is crucial that any undue panic amongst the masses is prevented." The Union Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation currently.