Amid growing concern about mpox, experts worry that the virus could become as deadly as Covid. Here's everything you want to know about its spread.

A deadly new strain of Mpox, often called monkeypox, first appeared in Central Africa and has since spread across the continent and beyond, posing a serious threat to public health worldwide. The virus, which was earlier confined to isolated areas, is now approaching India as Pakistan has already reported initial cases.

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How can India protect itself from MPOX?

The unanswered question is: Is India equipped to deal with another potential pandemic? “It is clear that Mpox is transmitted more through close human contact, especially during intimacy or through sexual fluids. It includes activities like touching, hugging, kissing or sharing utensils or clothes with an infected person,” Dr Prashant Sinha, Head- PSRI Hospital, Emergency told IANS.

He said the virus can be spread through contact with contaminated items such as bedding, towels or surfaces that have been exposed to the virus. “We need to be very vigilant in coming into contact with an infected person or a potential carrier who has a history of travel especially to any African nation,” Dr. Sinha continued. On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency due to the rapid spread of malaria in 13 African nations, including Congo, where 14,000 and 524 deaths have been reported. “Mpox affects brain function and headache is one manifestation of that.

The virus can cause inflammation in brain tissue, leading to serious conditions such as encephalitis. We need to be vigilant and closely monitor patients, especially those with neurological symptoms, to ensure timely intervention,” Dr. Praveen Gupta, Principal Director & Head of Neurology at Fortis Hospital told IANS. He added that the neurological impact of Mpox necessitates a multidisciplinary approach to managing the disease. Experts suggest a multi-pronged approach to curb the spread of Mpox in India, including awareness campaigns, vaccination campaigns and strengthening healthcare infrastructure.

Early detection and isolation of cases is important, and WHO recommends contact tracing and isolation measures. Awareness campaigns and preparedness are essential to prevent Mpox from becoming a widespread epidemic. The lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic serve as a wake-up call for India. Formerly known as monkeypox, Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the MPXV virus, which belongs to the orthopoxvirus genus. This virus belongs to two different genetic clades: clade I and clade II.

The disease is mainly spread by direct contact with infected people, animals or contaminated objects. Symptoms include a severe rash, fever, and enlarged lymph nodes. The virus was originally discovered in 1958 in Danish research monkeys, and the first case in humans was documented in the Congo in 1970. After the eradication of smallpox in 1980, Mpox began to emerge in Central, East and West Africa.

(Inputs: IANS)