New Delhi : The World Health Organisation has declared the global monkeypox outbreak a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ (PHEIC), one step below that of a ‘pandemic.’ More than 16,000 cases have now been reported from 75 countries, said WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom.
Delhi today reported its first monkeypox case as a 31-year-old man with no foreign travel history was diagnosed with the disease. This is the fourth monkeypox case reported in India with the previous three cases being reported from Kerala.
The man had attended a party in Manali in Himachal Pradesh.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal confirmed that the disease was detected in the city, while asserting there’s no need to panic.
“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,” said Mr Kejriwal.
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder; and monkeypox is rarely fatal.
Monkeypox is not related to chickenpox.
Symptoms of monkeypox can include Fever,Headache Muscle aches and backache Exhaustion, A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest and other parts of body.
