The Central Government has formed a Task Force to closely monitor the emerging situation in the country and decide on response initiatives to tackle the spread of the disease.
It will also provide guidance to the government on the expansion of diagnostic facilities in the country and explore emerging trends related to vaccination for the disease.
The task force will be headed by Dr. VK Paul, Member (Health), Niti Aayog and members include the Secretary of Union Health Ministry, Pharma, and Biotech, sources added. Notably, this latest development comes after India reported its first death linked to the disease, which was declared a ‘global health emergency by the WHO earlier this month.
Delhi reported its first and India’s fourth case of Monkeypox on Sunday.
A UAE-returned 22-year-old man with monkeypox symptoms passed away in Kerala’s Thrissur district on Sunday.
The State Health Minister Veena George announced that she is undertaking a high-level inquiry to look into the case. Additionally, The health department has been tracing and contacting people the man had been in touch with to isolate and monitor them.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 18,000 cases have been reported from 78 countries.
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Monkeypox in India: Delhi-based man found positive, Total case counts 04 NowDelhi reported its first and India’s fourth case of Monkeypox on Sunday. The patient, a 34-years old man hailing from Paschim Vihar (West Delhi), has visited Himachal Pradesh recently.
He was admitted to Lok Nayak hospital two days ago, with rashes and a fever that had lasted two weeks.
The interesting fact of this case is that he has no history of international travel, however, The three earlier cases had been detected in Kerla individuals who had arrived from the UAE.
One of the hospital officials said, “We suspected that he had monkeypox and admitted him to our isolation ward. He has now tested positive for the infection. He is being given symptomatic treatment.”
As per the reports, he has traveled to Himachal Pradesh recently, so the District surveillance teams are looking into whether he might have contracted the infection in Himachal, or from a friend he was in contact with.
Moreover, CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “The first case of Monkeypox was detected in Delhi. The patient is stable and recovering. There’s no need to panic. The situation is under control. We have made a separate isolation ward at LNJP. Our best team is on the case to prevent the spread and protect Delhiites.”
“Further public health interventions like identification of the source of infection, enhanced contact tracing, testing sensitization of private practitioners, etc. are being carried out. A high-level review of the situation has been planned by DGHS (Directorate General of Health Services),” the Union Health Ministry said in a statement.
Apart from Covid-19 & Polio disease, World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Monkeypox also a “Public health emergency of international concern”.