More than 31,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported worldwide
Monkeypox, a zoonotic disease, is caused by the monkeypox virus. It is transmitted from one individual to another by close contact. Though a self limiting disease with the signs and symptoms lasting from 2 to 4 weeks, the occurrence of severe cases can not be ruled out. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), currently the fatality ratio of monkeypox infection is around 3-6%.
On July 23, the WHO had declared the monkeypox outbreak as a public health emergency. "Since early May 2022, cases of monkeypox have been reported from countries where the disease is not endemic, and continue to be reported in several endemic countries," the WHO has said.
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WHO announces name change to ‘monkeypox’
To avoid social and cultural offence, the WHO has announced new names for the monkeypox infection.
"Newly identified viruses, related diseases and virus variants are given names to avoid causing offence to any cultural, social, national, regional, professional, or ethnic groups, and minimize the negative impact on trade, travel, tourism, or animal welfare," the WHO said in a statement.
The Congo Basin (Central African) clade is now known as Clade (I), the West African clade as Clade (II). The subclades of the Clade (II) will be known as Clade IIa and Clade IIb.
How is a virus named?
The naming of virus species is done by the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). The monkeypox virus was named upon first discovery in 1958 in a colony of monkeypox kept for research, which was much before the current nomenclature methods were adopted. The variants of the monkeypox which were in practice, prior to the name change, were named as per the geographic region where they were found in abundance.
"Current best practise is that newly-identified viruses, related disease, and virus variants should be given names with the aim to avoid causing offense to any cultural, social, national, regional, professional, or ethnic groups, and minimize any negative impact on trade, travel, tourism or animal welfare," the WHO says.
Monkeypox outbreak is continuing to grow
While declaring the infection as a public health emergency, WHO Chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had said that the outbreak is growing and there are now more than 16 thousand reported cases from 75 countries and territories, and five deaths.
The United States has confirmed more than 10,000 monkeypox cases so far, the US CDC has said. On August 12, it had confirmed a total of 11,177 confirmed monkeypox/orthopoxvirus cases. Majority of the cases have been found in California, District Of Columbia, New York and Texas.
Globally, more than 31,000 cases have been reported in over 80 countries. On July 23, the day when the WHO had declared it a health emergency a total of 3040 cases were reported to the WHO from 47 countries.
India is witnessing new cases
On August 13, India reported the 5th case of monkeypox. The 22 year old woman of African origin who has tested positive for the infection had travelled to Africa a month ago.
Prior to this, monkeypox cases were reported in patients from Kerala.
India has reported one death due to the monkeypox. A 22 year old man from Kerala who had returned from the United Arab Emirates tested positive for the infection and later succumbed to the infection.
Monkeypox task force set up in India
As the first monkeypox death was confirmed, the union government set up a task force in the country to monitor and provide guidance on the medical facilities for the infection.
Dr VK Paul from NITI Aayog who played a prominent role in the framework to manage the COVID pandemic is a key member of this task force.
Pharma companies in race for monkeypox vax, testing kits
As per reports, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has shortlisted 29 pharmaceutical companies for initial screening for developing monkeypox vaccine and diagnostic kits.
It is said that Serum Institute of India, Biological E, Haffkine Institute, Mumbai, and Indian Immunological Institute were among the 31 applicants of which 29 have been shortlisted. Of the 31 applicants, 25 were interested in making diagnostic kits and the rest to develop vaccines.
What are the symptoms of monkeypox that are commonly reported?
The common symptoms of monkeypox are fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, muscle ache, backache, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, cough and lesions on the body.
These symptoms start within 3 weeks of exposure to the virus and the lesions and rashes will appear 1-4 days later.
The infection will last for up to 4 weeks.
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