Monkeypox: Is this another pandemic after Covid-19? 

Karnataka's first case of the monkeypox virus has been confirmed, the Karnataka health department said on Sunday. The case has been detected in a middle-aged Ethiopian citizen who had come to Bengaluru earlier this month. He was subjected to a monkeypox test after he was suspected to have symptoms. His report first said that it is a case of chickenpox, but when his samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune, his reports were found positive. 

Health Minister K Sudhakar told reporters that there was no need for people to panic as it is not a deadly disease. “There is no need to panic over monkeypox. But, of course, we need to take some precautionary measures. However, even if it comes, there is treatment available for it. It does not lead to death. Death is doubtful,” Sudhakar, a medical professional, said.

The Karnataka health department said he was quarantined at a private hospital in Bengaluru. The African national was isolated at the hospital where he got admitted for treatment of multiple health issues, including a renal problem.

“The 55-year-old Ethiopian with kidney-related ailment and other health complications had come in the first week of July and only recently, he showed signs of monkeypox with rashes in his body,” a health department official told. He said the disease belongs to the smallpox family. Those who have taken vaccines will not show major symptoms.

It's not just in Karnataka but this disease seems to make its way in almost the entire country. 

As…

•On July 14, India's first quite potentially serious case of monkeypox, was reported from Kerala's Kollam district.

•On July 18, its second confirmed case was reported in Kannur district and another case was reported in the neighbouring district of Malappuram on July 22.

•Notably, India has 7 reports of this infection till date, out of which in the third case, man from Kerala who had tested positive for monkeypox in another country, has died in Thrissur.

“The virus that causes monkeypox was first discovered at the end of the 1950s, but there are signs it has undergone changes in the past three to four years that have enabled it to pass between humans more easily,” states BBC news.

Regional director of WHO South-East Asia,  Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh says, several cases of this infections disease has been reported from all over the world as well and many of the countries have not seen cases of the virus before. She also adds that according to the genomic studies, it is revealed that the monkeypox virus seems to have changed and evolved over the course of time. 

“More studies are needed to understand the evolution. WHO is regularly reviewing available data with its laboratory and other expert groups,” she said.

Dr. Poonam further elaborates that the unexpected circulation of this virus globally is due to our own negligence and below the detection of the surveillance system. It must have led by continued human to human transmission through direct or indirect contact between them which was remained undetected for quite a period of time.

On a serious note, monkey pox is quite difficult to detect because its symptoms are similar to smallpox although, clinically less severe. The incubation period is usually from six to thirteen days. Historically the fatality case rate of this virus has went up to eleven per cent among the general population but higher among children. However, in recent times the fatality rate has declined to around three to six per cent. 

According to the guidelines of WHO, the characteristics of this virus includes a notable predilection for palm and soles. It begins with the occurrence of lesions within one to three days since the outset of fever that lasts for around two to four weeks, yet making it painful for the patient until the healing phase when it is itchy. 

So? Where did monkeypox come from?

On 1958, monkeypox was first discovered at a laboratory in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was not until 1970 that the first case of this virus was detected in humans. It was found to have been infected when a nine months old boy was admitted to a hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Although, the infant resided in an area of tropical rainforest populated by monkeys. The doctors said they would not have been able to make out that whether it has been due to recently coming into contact with the monkeys or it has come from any other source. The boy got over from the infection but unfortunately died a few days later after contracting measles.

The first outbreak of this disease in the world was in West Africa, then it spread to US in 2003 when 70 cases were reported. Further, it spread to UK, Australia, Main Europe and Canada.

To conclude, it’s not that severe as Covid-19 or smallpox but still it’s communicable and painful, so we should always try to avoid it by taking precautionary measures seriously and make it a practice to stay healthy and fit.