Is there a possibility of an epidemic in India with the confirmation of a second case of monkeypox in Kerala?

Ria Soda 2 years ago 2 min read

A self-limiting illness with a low mortality rate is monkeypox. It is a well-known disorder that is simple to treat therapeutically. The smallpox vaccine gives long-lasting immunity that often offers significant protection against monkeypox.

Kerala was informed on Monday of the second incidence of monkeypox in a 31-year-old male. He had landed in Kannur from Dubai on July 13. Health Minister Veena George reported that the patient, who has been admitted to the government medical college hospital in Kannur, is stable.

On July 14, a 35-year-old man who had just returned from the UAE was identified as the disease’s first patient. A high-level, multidisciplinary central team was dispatched to Kerala to work with local officials. They will work out to put public health measures into action.

All 14 districts have received a notice, and support centers have been set up at each of the state’s four airports.

How widespread is the outbreak globally?

Monkeypox has been quickly spreading around the world since early May. it is spreading mostly among homosexual and bisexual males who frequently exhibit vaginal and anal rashes. Medical professionals can mistake this for herpes or syphilis.

According to the WHO, there is now a global outbreak going on that is affecting several nations, including those in Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Western Pacific, and the Eastern Mediterranean. The rate of infection in 2022 has been greater than typical, even in those regions of Africa where instances had previously been documented — Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic.

Is monkeypox now posing a threat to global public health?

No. The majority of monkeypox cases are self-limiting. This means they will go away on their own and have no negative long-term repercussions on the patient’s health. Even if they are infected, most kids and people with strong immune systems won’t get serious illnesses.

Older Indians have received the smallpox vaccination during the previous several decades, which protects against monkeypox and offers lifelong protection. In India, smallpox was eliminated in 1977.

The National Institute on Aging’s Dr. Luigi Ferrucci was reported as saying, “The final fact is that even people who were vaccinated many decades previously maintain a high level of antibodies.” “That protection should still exist even if they were immunized 50 years ago.”

Nevertheless, some populations are more susceptible to the infection. This can lead to challenging stages, particularly if it affects the lungs and eyes. Children, expectant mothers, and immune-compromised patients, especially those with diabetes, are included in the high-risk category. When compared to other things, they could have worse effects.

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