The World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday declared monkeypox a global public health emergency of international concern and called for nations to work closely with affected communities and adopt measures that protect the health, human rights and dignity of these communities.
It is learnt that more than 16,000 cases have now been reported from as many as 75 nations and there have reportedly been 5 deaths so far as a result of the outbreak.
It is pertinent to note that there have been three cases of monkeypox detected in India in the state of Kerala. The state had in the past also witnessed an outbreak of the coronavirus infection.
According to WHO the disease is fatal for about one in ten infected persons. It is understood that the smallpox vaccine can help guard against the monkeypox as the viral infection is similar to smallpox.
The infection can be passed from humans to humans through close contact or by using clothes or linen used by a person having monkeypox.
However the spread around the world rapidly is because of new modes of transmission about which very little is known. Goa needs to be vigilant against the virus. It would be prudent to conduct tests on suspected cases who visit the state, especially those coming from Kerala and visitors from African nations.
Monkeypox could well be the next worrying health issue across the globe after Covid-19.
