[ad_1]
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified monkeypox or Mpox as an international health emergency for the second time in two years. Mauritius is a signatory to the convention. International Health AgreementSo, like the other 195 signatory countries, it is subject to the WHO’s rules. But what is this disease? Where did it come from? And what is the country doing to protect itself?
“Mpox was discovered in animal populations in the 1950s. In the 1970s, the virus began to spread between humans and has been confined to the African continent so far.Dr. Vasantrao Gujadhur, former director of health services at the Ministry of Health, told CNN. The World Health Organization had already placed the virus on surveillance duty in 2022 when greater spread was detected, but that did not continue. This week, with new spread of Mpox, caused by a variant of the virus that appears to cause more severe illness, the WHO again classified it as an international emergency.
Dr. Ritesh Lutchmun, a health ministry official, said at a press conference on Friday that deaths in 2022 accounted for 0.1% of the cases, while deaths due to the new variants accounted for 3%. “From now on, Mauritius must submit regular reports to the World Health Organization on the number of cases and tests conducted to monitor the spread around the world”” Dr. Gujadhur explained.
In Mauritius, monitoring protocols are in place. Travellers arriving from 110 high-risk countries will be monitored. Those without symptoms will remain at home, but they will receive regular visits from Ministry of Health officials over a three-week period to monitor their progress. If there are any problems, they will be cared for in hospitals. Isolation rooms have been set up in each hospital for possible patients. For travellers who show symptoms on arrival, dedicated corridors will be provided to care for them.
Available vaccines
The central laboratory is equipped to detect positive cases through PCR tests. As for the vaccine, 1,000 doses have been provided for the relatives of those who have tested positive. Dr. Gujadhur added that the smallpox vaccine is also effective in preventing Mpox as it is a virus from the same family. “So in Mauritius a large part of the population has been vaccinated because it was once mandatory, which is a good thing. If there is an epidemic once, it will be less severe.”
Dr Gujjardur said the country now needed to step up surveillance. “It’s good to have increased monitoring at ports and airports, but we also need to monitor hotels. Staff must be trained in this. We also have to determine whether we need to provide protective measures such as masks, gloves and hydroalcoholic gel to staff at airports and medical centers again.” He added that it would be better to give priority to those who have already been vaccinated against smallpox.
Another important point Dr. Gujadhur made was this: awareness. “It is vital that the authorities inform the population about the modes of transmission and the habits they develop. This is the first step to prevention.”he said. The obvious symptoms of the disease are rash and swollen lymph nodes. Other symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain. According to the French Ministry of Health website, “Transmission of the virus occurs when a person comes into contact with animals, humans or materials contaminated with the virus. The virus enters the human body through lesions on the skin (even invisible), the respiratory tract or mucous membranes. Transmission from animals to humans can occur through bites or scratches, through the preparation of game meat, through direct or indirect contact with body fluids or wounding materials. No reservoir animals are usually present in Europe. Transmission between humans occurs during prolonged face-to-face contact, through respiratory droplets or direct contact with an infected person, through body fluids, diseased skin lesions or internal mucous membranes such as the mouth, and indirectly through objects that have been contaminated by a sick person, such as clothing or bed linen.” The incubation period ranges from 5 to 21 days.
World Situation
In the African continent, 15,000 cases of coronavirus infection and 461 deaths were recorded in 2024, a 160% increase in diagnoses and a 19% increase in deaths compared to the same period in 2023. This observation was made by the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention and published on Tuesday. “The discovery and rapid spread of a new poxvirus variant in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as in neighboring countries where it had not been previously reported, and the potential for this virus to spread across Africa and beyond are of great concern,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, at a press conference on Wednesday. In the African region, as of Friday, Burundi reported 77 cases and South Africa 24. Rwanda, Uganda and Côte d’Ivoire reported two cases each, and Kenya one. The first case outside the African continent was detected in Sweden.
Symptoms and transmission
symptom :
rash : Lesions appear on the skin, usually on the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and sometimes on other parts of the body.
Swollen lymph nodes : Swollen lymph nodes, usually in the neck, armpits, or groin.
fever : High body temperature, often accompanied by chills.
fatigue : Feeling of general fatigue and exhaustion.
Headache : Persistent or recurring pain in the head.
Muscle and joint pain : Feelings of pain or stiffness in muscles and joints.
Mode of transmission :
Direct contact : The virus is spread through contact with an infected person’s body fluids, skin lesions, or internal mucous membranes such as the mouth.
Respiratory droplets : Person-to-person transmission occurs through prolonged face-to-face contact via respiratory droplets.
Indirect contact : The virus can also be spread through contaminated objects, such as clothing or bed sheets.
Animals to humans : Transmission may occur through bites or scratches of infected animals, the preparation of bushmeat, or through contact with body fluids or materials contaminated with the virus.
Incubation period : The time varies from 5 to 21 days, during which people who have been exposed to the virus may begin to show symptoms.
[ad_2]
Source link
