Monkeypox should continue to be classified as global health emergency says, WHO

By Lokmat English Desk | Published: November 2, 2022 06:10 PM2022-11-02T18:10:24+5:302022-11-02T18:10:24+5:30

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that its emergency committee had determined that monkeypox should continue to be classified as a global health emergency, according to an AFP report.

The WHO on Tuesday stated that it continues to meet the International Health Regulations (IHR) criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

"The Emergency Committee acknowledged that some progress has been made in the global response to the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox since the last meeting, including the emerging information on the effectiveness of behavioural interventions and vaccines," said the WHO statement.

The statement came after the third meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee that was held on Thursday regarding the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox. The third meeting was reportedly convened via videoconference, wherein, 11 of the 15 members and six of the 9 advisors to the committee took part in the meeting. Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research has selected six pharmaceutical firms to make monkeypox vaccines. These companies are: Serum Institute of India, Biological E, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Hester Bioscience Ltd, Indian Immunologicals Ltd and Reliance Life Sciences.

In the third meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) with the emergency committee, the WHO noted that "more countries have promptly responded to the outbreak with a range of public health interventions and the cases are now declining."

The committee held the view that monkeypox continues to meet the IHR criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and highlighted the primary reasons for it.

The most important symptom of monkeypox is the appearance of blisters on the body similar to chickenpox. A good immune system is essential for a speedy recovery after monkeypox. People are advised to exercise caution in view of increasing cases of monkeypox.

Children and pregnant women are especially at risk, so they should pay special attention to their health. According to experts, the risk of monkeypox increases if the immune system is weak. Children and pregnant women have weak immunity.

A research has revealed that pregnant women can also get infected with monkeypox. The research was conducted in Congo, involving 216 women. 4 out of 5 women participating in this research had a miscarriage.

Women should pay special attention to their health. The disease can also be transmitted through physical contact with an infected person. For this it is always better to keep a safe distance from the infected person. If you are experiencing symptoms, contact your doctor to confirm the diagnosis.

Eat fresh fruits and vegetables to keep your immune system strong. Drink turmeric milk daily. Do not share food. Also, don't share things like brushes, toothpaste, towels, etc. Keep distance from infected person.

If symptoms of cold, cough and monkeypox appear, it is best to isolate yourself from the person immediately. Wear a mask when going out. With the help of this, you can also avoid the infection of coronavirus.