Four cases of monkeypox have been reported in India so far (File)
Bangalore:
Karnataka capital Bengaluru has ordered screening at airports, bus stands and railway stations amid a surge in monkeypox cases in India.
The guidelines issued by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) state that at least 21 days of isolation will be mandatory for confirmed cases.
Zonal health officers have been directed to ensure that screening teams are deployed at airports, bus stands and railway stations in their respective jurisdictions.
“All suspected cases in the community should be screened and tested through both hospital based surveillance and targeted surveillance,” the guidelines said.
“Intensive risk communication to health workers is to be carried out in health facilities and commonly identified sites like skin and pediatrics, OPDs, vaccination clinics and intervention sites identified by NACO etc.,” the guidelines said.
Last month, an Ethiopian national who showed some symptoms of monkeypox at the Bengaluru airport turned out to be a confirmed case of chickenpox instead.
Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar said, “A middle-aged Ethiopian national who came to Bengaluru earlier this month was subjected to monkeypox test after being suspected of having symptoms of monkeypox. His report has now confirmed that it is a case of chickenpox.” in his tweet.
A middle-aged Ethiopian national who had come to Bengaluru earlier this month was subjected to a monkeypox test after being suspected of having symptoms of monkeypox. His report has now confirmed that it is a case of chickenpox.
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— Dr. Sudhakar (@mla_sudhakar) 31 July 2022
According to the World Health Organization, monkeypox is a viral zoonosis – a virus transmitted from animals to humans – that has symptoms similar to smallpox, although less severe clinically.
Monkeypox usually presents with fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes and can lead to a variety of medical complications. It is usually a self-limiting disease with symptoms lasting two to four weeks.
With new confirmed and suspected cases being reported, the Center on Monday constituted a task force to monitor the situation and decide on response initiatives.