mpox

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister Veena George has urged people to be cautious in the wake of the confirmation of Mpox in the state. In the wake of Mpox being reported in many countries in Africa, surveillance was tightened at all airports in the state as per central guidelines. Those coming from countries where the disease has been reported have been advised to report at the airport if they develop any symptoms. In 2022, the state had issued a standard operating procedure in the wake of Mpox confirmation. Isolation, sample collection and treatment had been ensured accordingly. All government and private hospitals should strictly follow the protocol, the minister said.

What is Mpox?

Initially, Mpox was a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans. However, now it is a disease that is directly transmitted from humans to humans. Although low in severity, Mpox symptoms resemble the symptoms of smallpox, an orthopox virus infection that was declared eradicated worldwide in the 1980s.

Spread of disease

Mpox is not an airborne disease like COVID-19 or H1N1 influenza. Coming face-to-face with an infected person, touching the skin directly, having sex, touching the bed and clothes, not following the safety standards, etc., can increase the risk of contracting the disease.

Symptoms

The initial symptoms include fever, severe headache, knee-joint swelling, back pain, muscle pain, and lack of energy. Within a week of the onset of fever, blisters and red spots begin to appear on the body. Most of the blisters are found on the face and limbs. Apart from this, they are also found in the hands, genitals and eyes.

Prevention

Mpox is for people who come in close contact with sick people without following the prescribed safety measures. Health workers caring for patients suspected or confirmed to be infected with the virus, as well as those handling the swabs of infected people, should take mandatorily prescribed infection control precautions to avoid the spread of the disease.