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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Monkeypox: Government issues high alert

Special directives were issued to all the federal and provincial health authorities to be on high alert for any suspected case of monkeypox, and health authorities to closely monitored the situation

According to Radio Pakistan, the Ministry of National Health Services (NIH) is closely monitoring the situation and has denied any information circulating on social media about monkeypox cases being reported in Pakistan. As per reports of the National Institute of Health, no monkeypox case has been reported in the country so far,” said an official of the ministry.

Read more:  WHO raises alarm about another contiguous disease – Global 

Earlier, the NIH had also clarified that reports on the disease’s prevalence in the country on social media were “incorrect”. It had further called upon the national and provincial health authorities to remain vigilant for any suspected case. As per pre-preparation for any emergency-like situation, the government had ordered testing kits for the diagnosis of the viral disease last week, said Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel. “We have ordered the testing kits and they will reach soon, staff at entry points of the country had also been alerted, “said the health minister. “There has been no case so far,” the minister added.

Where is Monkeypox?

Monkeypox is endemic in parts of West and Central Africa, where it can be caught from infected wild animals such as rats, mice, and squirrels. However, a case in the UK earlier this month involving a patient with “a recent travel history from Nigeria” caught the eye of the health authorities, and as of Friday, 20 cases have now been recorded in Britain. Monkeypox cases have also been recorded in Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Sweden, and further afield in the US and Australia.

As per the National Institute of Health, monkeypox is a rare viral zoonotic disease that is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Although the natural reservoir of monkeypox is unknown, African rodents and non-human primates like monkeys may harbor the virus and infect people.

How does it Spread?

The alert said the disease could be transmitted through contact with infected animals, humans, or materials contaminated with the virus. The virus enters the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract, or the mucous membranes like the eyes, nose or mouth.

What are its symptoms?

The patient develops a rash within one to three days after the appearance of fever, often beginning on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body. Other symptoms include headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, and lymphadenopathy. The incubation period is usually seven to 14 days but can range from five to 21 days. The illness typically lasts for two to four weeks.

What is its treatment?

There is no specific treatment but vaccination against smallpox has been found to be about 85 percent effective in preventing monkeypox.