Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) is very much concerned over the spread of monkeypox in fifteen countries of the world where the disease is not typically found. The virus is most common in remote parts of Central and West Africa.
The countries where the cases of monkeypox have been detected are Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden, United States, Canada, Australia, Israel and Austria. Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to but milder than smallpox symptoms.
Early signs of monkeypox include flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, trunk, swollen lymph nodes and chickenpox-like rashes on the hands and face. Monkeypox spreads when someone is in close contact with an infected person.
It is a droplet infection and enters the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract or through the eyes, nose or mouth, as well as through shared items such as bedding or towels. Hon. Secretary General, Pakistan Medical Association (Centre), Dr S.M Qaisar Sajjad suggested the government to be prepared and vigilant and immediately take following protective measures to avoid the outbreak of monkeypox in Pakistan.
The government should improve the facilities at airports, seaports and all border entries of the country to scan and monitor the passengers; especially arriving from high risk countries. He suggested for immediate start rapid antigen test for monkeypox at Air Ports and at all other entry points of the country only for the passengers arriving from affected countries. The government should strictly impose the same SOPs as it has been imposing for Covid-19. Dr Qaisar Sajjad said wearing mask should be made mandatory and the patients tested positive for monkeypox at entry points of the country should be kept in isolation facilities. He advised general public to adopt the following preventive measure to avoid monkeypox including wear mask, keep social.
