Monkeypox Virus: Health Ministry issues Guidelines for treatment

New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued 'Guidelines on Management of Monkeypox Disease' to states and Union Territories to safeguard them from the outbreak of the Monkeypox in India.Though there are no reported cases of monkey pox disease in the country, as of the date.

The ministry said even one case is to be considered an outbreak. It should trigger a detailed probe by rapid response teams that need to be initiated through the integrated disease surveillance programme. It directed all states and UTs to report any suspected case immediately to the state and central surveillance unit, which shall report the same to the health ministry.

In view of the increasing reports of Monkeypox (MPX) cases in non-endemic countries, as part of a proactive and risk-based approach to the management of Monkeypox and to ensure advanced preparedness across the country.

The guidelines are available on MoHFW's website, https://main.mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Guidelines for Management of Monkeypox Disease.pdf

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As per the Guidelines, a confirmed case is laboratory confirmed for monkeypox virus by detection of unique sequences of viral DNA either by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or sequencing. All the clinical specimens should be transported to the Apex Laboratory of ICMR-NIV (Pune) routed through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network of the respective district/state.

The Guidelines on Management of Monkeypox Disease include the epidemiology of the disease (including host, incubation period, period of communicability and mode of transmission; contact and case definitions; clinical features and its complication, diagnosis, case management, risk communication, guidance on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) including use of personal protective equipment.

The guidelines stress on surveillance and rapid identification of new cases as the key public health measures for outbreak containment, mandating the need to reduce the risk of human-to-human transmission. It explains the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures, IPC at home, patient isolation and ambulance transfer strategies, additional precautions that need to be taken care of and duration of isolation procedures.

As per the Guidelines, contacts should be monitored at least daily for the onset of signs/symptoms for a period of 21 days (as per case definition) from the last contact with a patient or their contaminated materials during the infectious period.

Raising awareness of risk factors under risk communication and preventive measures, the Guidelines further explain in detail about raising awareness and educating people about the measures for Monkeypox virus like avoiding contact with any material of the sick person, isolation of the infected patient from others, practicing good hand hygiene and using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for patients.

Monkeypox has been reported as endemic in several other central and western African countries such as Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, and Sierra Leone. However, cases have been also reported in certain non-endemic countries e.g. USA, United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Australia, Canada, Austria, Israel, Switzerland etc.

Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare continues to maintain a close watch over the evolving situation.

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