Amid a surge in monkeypox cases globally, the Center on Thursday asked states to ensure screening and testing of all suspected cases at points of entry and in the community as part of India’s preparedness against the disease. It asked the states and union territories to ensure adequate human resource and logistic support to identify hospitals and manage any suspected or confirmed monkey case.
In a letter, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that from January 1 to June 22, a total of 3,413 laboratory-confirmed monkeypox cases have been reported and one death from 50 countries and territories. happened.
Most of these cases have been reported from the European region (86 percent) and the US (11 percent). This points to a slow but steady increase in the spread of monkeypox cases globally, he said.
Noting that for the first time in five WHO regions, cases and clusters are being reported concurrently, the global health body has assessed the overall risk of spread of cases as ‘moderate globally’.
“The continued expansion of monkeypox disease globally calls for actively strengthening and conducting necessary public health actions for preparedness and response against the disease in India as well,” Bhushan said.
He reiterated some of the important actions to be taken by all the States and Union Territories in line with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health on the subject.
Key actions include orientation and regular re-orientation of all key stakeholders, including health screening teams, disease at points of entry.
Surveillance teams and doctors about common signs and symptoms, differential diagnosis, contact and contact tracing in hospitals.
Bhushan urged them to ensure that all suspected cases are screened and tested at the points of entry, and in the community, the patient is isolated until all wounds are resolved and the scabs completely fall off, Ulcer protection, and symptomatic and supportive treatment. The Union Health Secretary said that continuous monitoring and timely treatment of complications are the key measures to check the mortality rate.
He also emphasized that there is a need to introduce the need for intensive risk communication and quick reporting of cases to health workers, health facilities at identified sites as well as to the public about preventive strategies.
States were asked to ensure adequate human resource and logistics support in the identified hospitals equipped to manage suspected and confirmed monkeypox cases.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to present challenges, it is important that we remain aware and alert about other public health threats and prepare ourselves to deal with them,” Bhushan said.