First monkeypox case in Delhi, fourth in India; SMCH alerts doctors to keep an eye for symptoms, isolation unit prepped

“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,” informed Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal confirming the first monkeypox case in the country’s capital.

With this, India has reported four cases of the disease so far. The other three were from Kerala with travel history to the UAE. This man who tested positive in Delhi has no foreign travel history. He had fallen sick after returning from a trip to Himachal Pradesh. The patient reported to Lok Nayak Hospital with complaints of fever and rashes. The doctors, based on clinical suspicion, admitted the patient to an isolation ward. Soon the tests were performed and in a couple of days, it has been confirmed to be a case of monkeypox.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of World Health Organisation announced yesterday that the body has determined that the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

During the waves of COVID infections, it was observed that once the infection reaches Delhi, it spreads to other regions including Barak Valley. Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) that caters to the entire population of all three districts in the Valley and parts of neighbouring state has prepared itself to deal with the monkeypox situation when it arrives.

All the treating doctors have been informed to keep an eye as Dr. Babul Bezbaruah, Principal of Silchar Medical College and Hospital believes, for initial detection, “We have to rely on clinical diagnosis.” He has informed that the Isolation Unit has been prepared to admit patients suspected to be carrying the monkeypox infection. After admission the treatment will kickstart and the confirmatory tests will follow as per the guideline issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

The incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) of monkeypox is usually from 6 to 13 days but can range from 5 to 21 days. The government of India guidelines direct hospitals to categorise patients in three categories. First, Suspected Patient. “A person of any age having history of travel to affected countries within last 21 days presenting with an unexplained acute rash and one or more of the following signs or symptoms – Swollen lymph nodes, Fever, Headache, Body aches, profound weakness,” are defined as suspected patients.

Then comes probable patients. “A person meeting the case definition for a suspected case, clinically compatible illness and has an epidemiological link (face-to-face exposure, including health care workers without appropriate PPE; direct physical contact with skin or skin lesions, including sexual contact; or contact with contaminated materials such as clothing, bedding or utensils is suggestive of a strong epidemiological link),” is a probable patient.

And a confirmed case is a case which is laboratory confirmed for monkeypox virus (by detection of unique sequences of viral DNA either by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or sequencing).