Can Mpox bring another Covid-like pandemic? Experts say ‘We should be worried…’

Monkeypox India: According to a bulletin released by the National Centre for Disease Control(NCDC), India, Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease with symptoms like smallpox, with less clinical severity

Sudeshna Ghoshal
Updated14 Sep 2024, 06:18 AM IST
Mpox is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus. (Representational image)
Mpox is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus. (Representational image)(HT_PRINT)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has just approved Bavarian Nordic's vaccine for Monkeypox or Mpox, the first to be cleared for use in African countries affected by the outbreak.

With the Union Health Ministry's advisory to intensify screening, after the first case of Monkeypox was reported in India on September 8, 2024, concerns have risen about the spread of the disease in the country. The fear comes years after COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it left on the country's health infrastructure.

Monkeypox: Should India be worried?

Speaking to LiveMint, Dr. Arun Gupta, President of the Delhi Medical Council, said there is significant worry regarding the spread of the disease. “ Yes we should be worried. In this era of people moving fast across the globe chances of spreading infections across the countries is very high,” Dr. Gupta told Mint, noting that a ‘high degree of alertness’ was required for people coming from abroad.

Also Read | One Bavarian Nordic Shot 58% Effective Against Mpox, Study Shows

On September 8, 2024, the first case of Mpox in India was suspected in a young male patient who recently travelled from a country currently experiencing Mpox transmission.

Dr. Anant Bhan, a public health researcher from Bhopal, advised that countries like India should keep a close watch on any cases which emerge due to people arriving from aboard. “ MPox has caused a global outbreak in 2022, so a close watch on current trends is needed, but the possibility of turning into a ‘pandemic’ seems to be low at this point of time,” Dr. Bhan told Mint.

Monkeypox or COVID-19: Which is more fatal

Mpox is less fatal as compared to COVID-19, but there are high chances of Monkeypox spreading globally, further noted experts. Speaking to LiveMint, a consultant physician from Kolkata, said, “As with all zoonotic diseases(transferred from animals), there is a strong possibility that this disease may spread globally.”

The possibility of human-to-human respiratory spread of the virus (which was seen with Covid-19), however, appears to be low, the doctor said.

Also Read | Mpox in India: How can standard health insurance provide financial immunity?

Another specialist doctor also said that Mpox is not as fatal as COVID-19 was. If 100 people are diagnosed with Monkeypox, then three to six people can die, she said.

Monkeypox: What health bulletins say

According to a bulletin released by the National Centre for Disease Control(NCDC), India, Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease with symptoms like smallpox, with less clinical severity.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for the first time in July 2022, second in August 2024.

Monkeypox : Symptoms similar to Chickenpox?

Once an individual contracts Mpox, visible symptoms develop within a period of 14 days (incubation period). Temperature, headache, fatigue, and often, lymph node enlargement in the neck and armpits are the most common symptoms during the initial one to four days, said the consultant physician.

Also Read | ‘Test, trace contact’: Centre issues advisory for States

Severe symptoms, such as skin lesions, appear later on. These lesions are blisters that appear similar to chickenpox and appear over the face, trunk, arms, and legs, varying in number from a few to a thousand. What makes Monkeypox lesions distinguishable from chickenpox is that the lesions mostly occur on the palms and soles.

In rare cases, skin lesions affect other areas, such as the genitals, or are associated with oral ulcers (pharyngitis) and conjunctival damage.

Also Read | A deadly new strain of Mpox is raising alarm

Lesions also appear on the genitals with painful lymph node swelling in the groin, further added the physician.

Monkeypox: How to prevent

Mpox has caused a global outbreak in 2022, so a close watch on current trends is needed.

Speaking about how one can take precautions against Mpox, the consultant physician said Mpox is spread mainly through skin-to-skin contact. "One should avoid close contact and particularly sexual contact with a person with Mpox,” said the doctor.

Check here for more updates

Key Takeaways
  • Mpox is less fatal than COVID-19, but its zoonotic nature poses risks for global spread.
  • Human-to-human respiratory transmission appears low, but skin-to-skin contact is a significant risk factor.
  • Countries should maintain high alertness and screening measures, especially for travelers from affected regions.

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First Published:14 Sep 2024, 06:18 AM IST
Business NewsScienceHealthCan Mpox bring another Covid-like pandemic? Experts say ‘We should be worried…’

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