Kochi, August 3 (Representative) Genomic studies have revealed that the monkeypox virus seems to have changed over recent years and more studies are needed to understand the evolution of the disease, Visiting Professor at the Thrissur-based Kerala University of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Dr Naresh Purohit, said on Wednesday. India’s monkeypox case count rose to nine on Tuesday with Kerala reporting its fifth case, noted Epidemiologist Dr Purohit said in a press release. A person who returned from UAE on July 24 was found to be infected with monkeypox. In all, India now has nine cases — five from Kerala, three from Delhi and one Nigerian national. Of these eight, five have a history of international travel from Dubai and Sharjah .He averred that according to the World Health Organization, the case fatality ratio of monkeypox has historically ranged from 0% to 11% in the general population and has been higher among young children.In recent times, the case fatality ratio has been around 3%-6%.
While the disease has been around in Africa since the 1970s, it has also been reported in the U.S., the U.K. and Israel.Dr Purohit also Advisor-National Communicable Disease Control Programme told UNI that “skin rashes and fever are the common symptoms in both monkeypox and chickenpox. These have caused confusion among people although there is a difference in the way the symptoms of both the viral diseases manifest in patients.”He pointed that in monkeypox, the lesions are bigger than chickenpox. In monkeypox, the lesions are seen on palms and soles. In chickenpox, lesions are self limiting after seven to eight days but not so in monkeypox. The lesions are vesicular and itchy in chicken pox. In monkeypox the lesions are broad vesicular and non-itchy.He said the duration of fever is longer in monkeypox and such a patient has enlarged lymph nodes.
The renowned physician said that chickenpox is a RNA virus which is not as severe but it too leads to rashes on the skin. Elaborating about monkeypox he explained that such virus requires an animal host but is self limiting with soar throat, fever and normal virus signs.”The main sign of this virus is the rashes on the body which have liquids inside. This leads to viral infection which weakens the body resistance. But problems arise due to its complication. In case, any bacterial infection leads to blisters leading to further complication into the body.” He stated that right now, monkeypox is at its juvenile stage. There is no proper treatment presently. Medics are just following the method of isolation and treating the suspected patient according to their symptoms. So, here it is a case of symptomatic treatment .”The small pox vaccine was discontinued after teh World Health Organisation said the disease had been completely eradicated around 1979-80. People born before 1980 who have taken smallpox vaccine have lesser chances of contracting monkeypox. Both smallpox and monkeypox are caused by viruses of the same family,” he added. He revealed that due to this similarity between small pox and monkeypox, many countries have allowed the ‘small pox’ vaccines to be given but in India, it is still not allowed. “The virus is at its juvenile stage and doctors are still figuring it out,” he added.