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Increasing Awareness Among Health Professionals About Mpox Risks from Travel
Mpox one suspected case in India experts believe the infection is unlikely to spread widely at this time. However, they stress the need to raise awareness about community engagement, Mpox risk factors, transmission methods, symptoms and access to care.
On Sunday, the Union health ministry announced that a suspected case of Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox) has been identified. The patient a young male who recently returned from a country experiencing active Mpox transmission is now in isolation at a hospital.
According to the ministry, the patient is reported to be in stable condition. The ministry is monitoring the situation closely and taking necessary precautions to manage the case.
Concerns about the return of Mpox had already been growing particularly after the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a highest-level alert in August.
What is Mpox?
The infection primarily spreads through close contact and, less commonly, from the environment to individuals via contaminated objects and surfaces touched by someone with Mpox.
The virus has two main types: clade I (with subclades Ia and Ib) and clade II (with subclades IIa and IIb). The global Mpox outbreak of 2022–2023 was attributed to the clade IIb strain, as reported on the WHO website.
Mpox can be transmitted from infected animals to humans through bites or scratches, or during activities such as hunting, skinning, trapping, cooking, handling carcasses or consuming animal meat.
Although experts currently assess the risk of widespread Mpox in India as low, there is a pressing need to enhance community engagement and education about the disease.
This education should address risk factors, modes of transmission, symptoms and access to healthcare. Additionally it is crucial to raise awareness among clinicians and other health professionals about potential Mpox cases related to travel ensuring they are well-informed and prepared to manage such cases effectively.
What are the Symptoms of Mpox? Is It Fatal?
Mpox is a viral infection that can cause fever, headache, rashes, pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms. While these symptoms are typically mild they can occasionally be severe and even fatal.
According to the WHO, Mpox presents a range of signs and symptoms with some individuals experiencing less severe cases while others may develop more serious conditions requiring medical attention.
A common symptom is a rash that can persist for two to four weeks. The severity of symptoms varies with some people needing care in a healthcare facility as outlined in WHO guidelines.
According to the WHO, Mpox symptoms may initially include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.
The rash associated with Mpox often appears as blisters or sores and can affect various areas including the face, palms, soles of the feet, groin, genital, and anal regions. Lesions can also develop in the mouth, throat, anus, rectum, vagina, or on the eyes.
The number of sores can vary from just one to several thousand. In some cases individuals may experience proctitis causing severe rectal pain or inflammation of the genitals which can lead to difficulties in urination.
The infection becomes severe when large, widespread lesions develop, particularly in sensitive areas like the mouth, eyes and genitals.
Complications can arise from secondary bacterial infections of the skin or blood and can include serious conditions such as skin infections encephalitis (swelling of the brain) myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), pneumonia (lung infection) and eye problems.
Severe cases of Mpox may require hospitalization and antiviral medications to alleviate the severity of the lesions and shorten the recovery period.
‘No Need to Panic’: Experts
Public health experts have assessed the overall risk of Mpox spreading among the general population as low Dr. Vishal Rao a member of Karnataka’s genomic surveillance committee explained The overall risk for the Indian population is currently considered low due to the very low likelihood of spread and minimal impact.
Similarly Krutika Kuppalli former medical officer for Covid-19 and Mpox Health Operations at WHO informed News18 that the overall risk of infection to the general population outside of the affected countries remains low.
Both experts emphasize that while vigilance is important the current risk of widespread transmission is minimal.
Kuppalli emphasized the importance of enhancing community engagement and educating the public about Mpox.
This includes raising awareness about risk factors, transmission modes symptoms and access to medical care Dr. Rao also recommended several measures to address the infection including the swift isolation of any suspected cases until they are confirmed negative.
If a case tests positive isolation should continue until symptoms resolve.
These steps are crucial for controlling the spread and ensuring effective management of Mpox cases.
Dr. Rao emphasized that prospective donors returning from countries where clade I Mpox virus has been detected should be meticulously interviewed about their contact with individuals suspected or confirmed to have Mpox as well as any interactions with infected animals.
This step is crucial for ensuring donor safety especially for those who are not deferred for other reasons.
He highlighted the need for increased awareness among clinicians and health professionals about the potential for Mpox cases linked to travel.
Additionally Rao who serves as the dean of the Centre for Academic Research at HCG Cancer Hospital in Bengaluru recommended that travelers receive guidance on national vaccination recommendations for Mpox before embarking on their trips.
This proactive advice aims to help manage and mitigate the risk of Mpox transmission and ensure that both donors and travelers are well-informed and protected.