MPox outbreak: Pak reports first 3 cases after WHO declares global emergency; Check symptoms, prevention and impact in India

The health department of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province announced on Friday that three patients had tested positive for the MPox virus, commonly known as monkeypox. These people are said to have returned from the United Arab Emirates, after which they tested positive for the virus.

According to Salim Khan, director general of health services for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two patients have been confirmed to have MPox. Instead, samples from the third patient were sent to the National Institute of Health in Islamabad for further testing. All three are currently in quarantine to prevent further spread of the virus.

A spokesman for Pakistan’s National Ministry of Health also confirmed the detection of a suspected case of MPox, although details about it are limited.

WHO declares an international emergency

This development comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) once again declared the recent MPox epidemic a public health emergency of international concern.

The move follows the identification of a new strain of the virus and recent confirmations of an infection in Sweden, which is linked to the growing outbreak in Africa.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on X: “Today the #mpox Emergency Committee met and informed me that, in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I took that advice. @WHO is on the ground working with affected countries and others at risk through our country and regional offices, as well as with partners including @AfricaCDC, NGOs, civil society and beyond.

The WHO statement is in response to the alarming spread of MPox cases, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where 27,000 cases and more than 1,100 deaths have been reported since the outbreak began in January 2023. Most of the people affected are children.

symptom

Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus, has symptoms that include a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever, and can lead to severe illness for some patients. In rare cases, the infection can be fatal. Here are the main symptoms

Rash:
– It frequently appears on the hands, feet, chest, face, mouth or genital areas.
– Progresses to pustules (large white or yellow bumps filled with pus) and crusts before healing.

Other symptoms:
– Fever
– Headaches
– Muscle pains
– Swollen lymph nodes (as the body fights the virus)

Contagious period:
– Affected people can spread the virus from the onset of symptoms until the rash has completely healed and new skin has formed.

Duration of Mpox symptoms

– Symptoms usually begin within 21 days of exposure to the virus.

– Incubation period:
– Varies from 3 to 17 days.
– During this period, people may feel well and have no symptoms.

How is it transmitted?

– Direct skin-to-skin contact
– Contact with saliva or upper respiratory secretions (mucus, mucus)
– Body fluids or injuries around the genitals
– Prolonged face-to-face interactions (speech or breathing)
– Contact with contaminated objects, fabrics and surfaces
– Pregnant women can transmit the virus to the fetus during pregnancy or to newborns during and after birth.

Precautions against Mpox
Vaccination: Smallpox vaccines can protect because of the relationship between Mpox and smallpox viruses (both are orthopoxviruses).

Possible impact on India

The development also has significance for India, as the country has reported about 27 cases of monkeypox since the disease was first detected in mid-2022. Although the number of cases has been relatively low, the emergence of new viral strains and the risk of imported cases highlights the importance of preparation.

Indian health authorities have implemented several measures such as surveillance, contact tracing and public health advisories to manage the situation. Access to MPox vaccines through the EUL process would significantly strengthen India’s efforts to prevent potential outbreaks.