8-year-old boy reports monkeypox symptoms in Andhra’s Guntur

According to authorities, an 8-year-old child in Guntur reported monkeypox symptoms on Saturday.

The youngster was taken to Guntur’s Government General Hospital. Dr. Sumaiya Khan, District Medical and Health Officer of Guntur, stated, “It appears to be a case of monkeypox. For verification. We collected samples and submitted them to the National Institute of Virology in Pune and the Gandhi Hospital in Secunderabad for confirmation.”

Following the study, GGH authorities stated that more action will be taken.

The youngster is currently quarantined and being treated in a specialised unit.

Notably, India has documented four instances of monkeypox thus far, three of which are from Kerala and one from Delhi. Following this, the federal government is on high alert, despite the fact that the number of illnesses in some other nations has increased.

Dr V K Paul, NITI Aayog’s member (Health), stated that there is no reason for concern because the government has taken substantial steps to combat the disease.

In an Interview with ANI, Dr Paul sought to assert that there was no need for any undue panic but added that it was still important that the country and the society stay vigilant.

“There is no need to panic, as of now, but one must report in time if they spot any symptoms, he said.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), more than 18,000 cases have been reported from 78 countries.

“The monkeypox outbreak can be stopped if countries, communities and individuals inform themselves, take the risks seriously, and take the steps needed to stop transmission and protect vulnerable groups,” said Dr Tedros, Director General, WHO on Thursday.

Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same family of viruses that causes smallpox. The disease is endemic in regions like West and Central Africa but lately, cases have been reported from non-endemic countries too, according to the WHO.