India Mpox Outbreak, Mpox virus in india, Mpox Symptoms, Treatment, Vaccine, Spread, Monkeypox
Mpox global health emergency-
Monkeypox or Mpox virus was declared Public health Emergency of International Concern by WHO recently due to its outbreak which started in Congo Basin. Till now 99,176 Mpox cases are reported from 116 countries of World, about 208 deaths are also reported worldwide.
Mpox in India-
in India about 30 cases are reported, last case was reported in March 2024.
It was first detected in monkeys in 1958 and first human case was detected in 1970.
What is Mpox- Monkeypox kya hai-
This is a zoonotic disease. This disease is caused by Monkeypox virus, now known as Mpox virus.
This virus is a DNA virus, from Orthopox virus family which includes Variola virus and smallpox viruses. It has 2 subtypes
1 Clade 1 it is more virulent, endemic in Congo Basin, 10% deadly. Now Clade 1b is of real concern. Spread easily by close contact, bedding, touching, kissing and sexual contacts- oral, vaginal and anal. On 15th August Mpox news is that one person in Sweden is infected with this strain. He travelled the infection area recently. One case is reported in Pakistan recently.
2 Clade 2 Endemic in West Africa, very safe, 99% safe
Monkey pox disease is usually self limiting. Patient recovers with supportive treatment.
Incubation period is from 5-21 days. It means that after coming in contact with infected person infection comes after 5-21 days.
Mpox symptoms-
Initially skin rash appear, which later turns into blisters. Crusts appear in these blisters. Patients heal with falling of crusts.
Oher symptoms are Fever, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, weakness and swollen lymph nodes. Patients are infectious since onset of symptoms until all lesions scabbed and healed.
With skin lesions patient also develops fever, body pain, muscle pain, back pain and swollen lymph nodes.
Serious symptoms presents with involvement of nerves and heart.
Mpox treatment-
No definitive treatment is available. Tablet Tecovirimat can be tried but results are not encouraging.
Most people with mpox usually recover fully within 2-4 weeks without any specific treatment.
Mpox vaccine-
2 vaccines are available, same as for smallpox. These are give at four weeks of interval and immunity comes after two weeks of last injection.
Mpox Spread is by
1 face to face by talking and breathing
2 skin to skin by touching and vaginal/anal sex
3 mouth to mouth by kissing
4 Mouth to skin by oral sex and kissing skin
5 Respiratory droplets on bedsheets etc
6 consuming meat of infected animal
7 Mother to child in pregnancy
Prevention by
1 avoid close contact with suspected person
2 Avoid handling things of a patient
3 Use soap and water or alcohol based sanitizer for hand washing
4 Avoid animals that carry virus
5 Avoid sexual contact and kissing with strangers. Using condoms can't prevent you from disease because Mpox disease also spreads by skin contact.
Can monkeypox spread from human o animals-
Yes it may be possible.
Mpox vaccine in India-
First case was reported in India was at 14 July 2022.
No vaccine is available in India at present.
Monkeypox look like smallpox disease. There is no monkeypox outbreak in India. Only 30 cases are reported. Monkeypox bimari or Monkeypox disease is caused by virus. Monkeypox patient recovers fully in most cases. Monkeypox look like smallpox and everything is so similar. Mpox pictures are available on internet.
Dr Puneet Agrawal MS
Laparoscopic and Laser Surgeon
WhatsApp 9837144287
