Lucknow, August 28 (IANS). An advisory has been issued across the country regarding monkeypox. The health department of Uttar Pradesh has also come into alert mode. A helpline number has been issued at the local level. The Deputy Chief Minister has issued instructions in this regard and has ordered screening of patients at the entry points of all the districts of the state.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that the World Health Organization has declared monkeypox as an international public health disaster. Instructions have been given for identification of suspected patients, sample collection and treatment. Instructions have been given to send the samples to the State Reference Laboratory (Department of Microbiology, KGMU). He said that a state level helpline number (18001805145) has been issued in this regard. Surveillance process is also being started regarding patients at the point of entry in all the districts of the state.
Monkeypox disease is spreading rapidly in Africa these days. Some cases of this have been reported outside Africa as well. Rashes on the body, high fever, extreme weakness, swelling in the lymph glands are the initial symptoms of monkeypox. This is a self-healing disease whose symptoms can persist for two to four weeks. Proper care and treatment is necessary on time. This disease can also be contracted by coming in contact with a patient suffering from monkeypox. However, the last case of monkeypox in the country was found in Kerala in March 2024. That patient had a history of going abroad.
The World Health Organization declared the disease an international public health emergency on August 14. More than 16,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported worldwide this year and more than 500 people have died.
WHO says that until the blisters heal completely and the blistered skin is replaced by new skin, a person cannot be considered free from infection. One should avoid coming in contact with such a person.
–IANS
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