After Delhi reports first case, Gurugram hospitals on alert for monkeypox

The district health department on Monday said that it has asked government health care institutions and private hospitals to immediately report anyone presenting with symptoms of monkeypox viral infection and samples of patients suspected to have the disease will be collected by teams of the health department only, and sent for further testing to Hyderabad

The district health department on Monday said that it has asked government health care institutions and private hospitals to immediately report anyone presenting with symptoms of monkeypox viral infection and samples of patients suspected to have the disease will be collected by teams of the health department only, and sent for further testing to Hyderabad.

HT Image

Health officials also urged individuals who have come from abroad and have symptoms of the disease to isolate themselves and inform the department. The department also formed a task force for surveillance of monkeypox patients on Sunday, after a 34-year-old man from Delhi, with no history of foreign travel, tested positive for the virus. With this, the total number of confirmed monkeypox cases in the country is now four -- three in Kerala and one in Delhi.

With over 17,000 people in 74 countries affected by the monkeypox outbreak, the World Health Organization on Saturday finally declared it to be a global health emergency, notably the highest alarm it can sound.

The first symptoms of monkeypox are fever, headaches, muscle pain and back pain during the course of five days.Rashes subsequently appear on the face, palms of hands and soles of the feet, followed by lesions, spots and finally scabs, doctors said.

“We are not taking any chances and surveillance and monitoring has been increased . The samples of any suspected patient can only be collected by health department teams, and all private and government hospitals have been asked to step up monitoring. There is no need to panic as we are on alert and a five-member task force has been constituted to coordinate with hospitals, and to trace suspected patients,” said Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, Gururgam.

Yadav said all persons who have travel history from countries where the infection has been reported must remain watchful and in case symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache or blisters develop, they must inform the health department.

“The task force will be taking updates from hospitals on a daily basis to ensure there is a coordinated effort to prevent the spread of monkeypox. We have also asked the health-care institutions to boost surveillance,” said Yadav, adding that patients suspected of monkeypox will be treated at dedicated facilities and kept in isolation till they recover.

Doctors cautioned the public that monkeypox infection can spread through droplets released by an infected person while coughing or sneezing. One can also contract the disease by coming in touch with the body fluids or blisters of an infected person, they said.

Yadav said following Covid-19 safety protocols such as washing and sanitizing hands, avoiding crowded places, and wearing masks could prevent the transmission of monkeypox as well.