Monkeypox Risk At Nepal
Nepal is also at risk of monkeypox infection
which is spreading all over the world. Due to the open border between Nepal and
India and the influx of tourists from different countries, Nepal is also highly
at risk of monkeypox infection.
World Health Organization (WHO), Health
Journalist Forum Nepal organized an interaction program on the situation and
risk of monkeypox. WHO Nepal chief Rajesh Pandav said that Nepal is at risk of
monkeypox infection. However, monkeypox, a contagious disease caused by a
virus, has not been seen in Nepal so far.
There is a high risk because monkeypox patients
are found in India and because the border is open, infected people can easily
enter Nepal. So far nine people have been found infected with monkeypox in
India.
Dr. Chathura Idirisuriya, an epidemiologist of
WHO, Nepal, informed that the risk has increased as tourists can come to Nepal
from Africa, Europe, and Middle East Asian countries. "It is easy to find
many tourists in Nepal from these places", he said, "Therefore, Nepal
is also at risk of monkeypox."
According to the WHO, monkeypox has spread to
about 24,000 people in eighty countries. Dr. Idirisuriya said that it is
necessary for the government to inform the community about the risk of
monkeypox disease.
According to the WHO, 97.5 percent of the
disease is transmitted through sexual contact between men. 38 percent of them
were found to be HIV positive.
Nepal-based epidemiologist of WHO, Dr.
Idirisuriya, said that the infection of this disease can be transmitted from
one person to another person within 21 to 24 days, so they have to stay in
isolation for a month.
Dr. Alison Gokotano, Head of Health Emergencies
Program of WHO Nepal, said that because of the cases of monkeypox in India, due
to the open border, monkeypox infection can easily be seen in Nepal.
Senior Health Administrator of Epidemiology and
Communicable Disease Control Division of the Ministry of Health and Population
Dr. Khageswar Gelal said that Nepal is also at risk of monkeypox infection as
it is seen in neighboring countries.
He informed that monkeypox disease has not been
seen in four suspected samples tested so far. "So far, not a single
infection has been seen in Nepal. But there is no reason to be sure because it
is seen in neighboring countries India and Nepal which are easily
accessible", he said.
WHO has provided 250 kits to test for monkeypox
infection. Currently, monkeypox is tested at the National Public Health
Laboratory through the same kit.
WHO public health expert Dr. Sheetal Adhikari
said that this disease is transmitted from humans to humans and from animals to
humans. He informed that the spots on the skin and mouth, when the disease
breaks out and the monkeypox disease is transmitted to the people who are close
to them.
This disease is transmitted through contact
with wounds, sores, diseases, contact with body fluids such as spit, saliva,
direct contact with contaminated surfaces and materials, infected monkeys,
rats, and other animals, and also from bed and clothes containing the virus.
This virus is also spread through organs such
as cut, diseased or broken skin, eyes, nose or mouth, trachea.
Government prepareness
The Ministry of Health and Population has
prepared to reduce the risk of monkeypox.
Dr Gelal, senior health administrator of the division,
said that 14 doctors have been appointed as focal persons across the country to
conduct research to detect monkeypox. Similarly, suspected monkeypox patients
have been tested at the National Public Health Laboratory.
The department has already given orientation
training to the doctors of Shukraraj Tropical and Communicable Disease Hospital
and Kanti Children's Hospital. He informed that the preparation of 'Internal
Guideline on Clinical Management of Monkeypox-2079' has started.
Similarly, he informed that all the divisions
of the Health Service Department have been instructed to prepare future action
plans for monkeypox response.
He said that the division has also discussed
prevention and control with the communities that are at high risk of monkeypox.
The provincial directorates of all the seven provinces have been instructed to
prevent and control monkeypox.
Symptoms of this disease include fever, rash
appearing on the skin, face, palms and soles within one to three days of the
onset of normal fever, the rash changing to blisters and crusting, headache,
back and muscle pain, and enlargement of the body's glands.
Possible complications of monkeypox disease are
eye infection and vision loss, infection with other bacteria, pneumonia, brain
fever, pregnancy loss.
Avoidance measures
Avoiding unprotected contact with people with
suspected or confirmed cases of monkeypox, keeping the infected person in
isolation at home or in the hospital, caring for the infected person fully
following public health standards, wearing gloves when in direct contact with
the wound, regularly washing hands with soap and water or using sanitizer,
clothing of the infected person, Towels, bedding and dishes should be washed
with hot water, soap or detergent.
Likewise, people who have been confirmed to be
infected with monkeypox should not come in contact with sick or dead animals,
people who have come in contact with infected people should undergo PCR tests,
disinfect surfaces or rooms that have come into contact with infected people
with detergent, eat meat-based food only after it has been properly cooked, and
dispose of garbage in a proper place.
