PGI Chandigarh reserves beds for suspected Monkeypox cases

New Delhi: After the recent issuance of the Ministry's advisory for the preparedness of healthcare institutes for Monkeypox-cases management, the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh has designated beds in Nehru Hospital and in Nehru hospital extension.

"Due to recent issuance of Ministry advisory for preparedness of the healthcare institutes for management of Monkeypox cases, prima facie PGIMER has designated few beds in Communicable ward of Nehru Hospital and ICU beds in Nehru hospital extension," read an official statement by the PGIMER.

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The Monkeypox being a dermatological infestation, the institute has directed the Department of Dermatology to take the lead in the examination and management of such suspected cases.

"Any patient suspected of having symptoms simulating Monkeypox will be directed to dermatology wing of the institute for examination and required testing," the statement read.

Meanwhile, the Department of Virology in PGIMER has also been designated for sample processing and reporting. Competent authorities have also stated that in order to minimise the disease transmission, only the cases needing active management will be admitted to the hospital while the other stable patients are advised for home isolation.

The NITI Aayog's member (health) Dr VK Paul on Tuesday sought to assert that there was no need for any undue panic and added that it was still important for the country to stay vigilant.

There is no need to panic, as of now, but one must report in time if they spot any symptoms, he said. After four confirmed cases of Monkeypox infection were reported in the country, India is on an alert even as the count of infections in some other countries has risen.

After the national capital reported its first case of Monkeypox on Sunday, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena reviewed the situation in Delhi and asked people not to panic.

Delhi has reported the first case of Monkeypox in a 31-year-old man with no travel history, said Dr Suresh Kumar, Medical Director, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital on Sunday.

This was the fourth case of the viral disease in India and the first case without a travel history. The 31-year-old man has been admitted to Maulana Azad Medical College with no travel history. He was admitted to the hospital with fever and skin lesions. However, the patient is stable.

Earlier the cases in India were among nationals who returned home from the Middle East, while in Thailand an international living in the country has been confirmed positive for Monkeypox.

The first case of the Monkeypox virus originated in India on July 14 after a UAE traveller returned to Kerala. He has been admitted to Thiruvananthapuram medical college.

India reported its second case of monkeypox in Kerala's Kannur district on July 18. While on July 22, India reported its third case of monkeypox in Kerala's Malappuram district.

Earlier on Saturday, World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a public health emergency of international concern, looking at the expanding monkeypox outbreak in more than 70 countries.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), monkeypox is a viral zoonotic infection caused by the monkeypox virus. It spreads mostly from human contact.

Expressing concern over rapidly spreading cases of Monkeypox, the first Indian elected as Regional Director of the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region said that with cases concentrated among men who have sex with men, it is possible to curtail further spread of the disease with focused efforts among the at-risk population.

The World Health Organization on Sunday called on countries in South - East Asia Region to strengthen surveillance and public health measures for monkeypox, with the disease being declared a public health emergency of international concern.

More than 16000 cases of Monkeypox have been reported from 75 countries including four from India, and one from Thailand.

Monkeypox virus is transmitted from infected animals to humans via indirect or direct contact. Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with infectious skin or lesions, including face-to-face, skin-to-skin, and respiratory droplets. In the current outbreak countries and amongst the reported Monkeypox cases, transmission appears to be occurring primarily through close physical contact, including sexual contact.

Transmission can also occur from contaminated materials such as linens, bedding, electronics, and clothing, that have infectious skin particles.

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