VK Paul Taskforce on MonkeyPox

In Context

• The Union government has formed a task force headed  by Dr VK Paul, a member of NITI Aayog in the wake of Monkeypox cases in India.

Monkeypox

• About:
  • Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same family of viruses that causes smallpox. 
• Occurrence of Disease:
  • The infection was first discovered in 1958 
  • The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
• Symptoms:
  • Monkeypox begins with a fever, headache, muscle aches, back ache, and exhaustion. 
  • It also causes the lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy), which smallpox does not. 
  • Incubation period: usually 7-14 days but can range from 5-21 days. 
• Transmission:
  • Zoonotic disease: It is a disease that is transmitted from infected animals to humans.  
  • Human-to-human transmission is limited and the overall risk to the general public is very low.
  • Transmission can be through contact with bodily fluids, lesions on the skin or on internal mucosal surfaces, such as in the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets and contaminated objects.
• Prevention:
  • There is no safe, proven treatment for monkeypox yet. 
  • The WHO recommends supportive treatment depending on the symptoms. 
  • Awareness is important for the prevention and control of the infection.

Source: TH