Monkeypox: In Bengaluru's Guidelines, At Least 21-Day Isolation For Case

Karnataka's capital Bengaluru has ordered screening at airports, bus stands and railway stations amid a rise in Monkeypox cases in India.

Guidelines issued by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) stated that at least 21-day isolation will be mandatory for the confirmed cases.

Zonal health officials have been instructed to ensure that screening teams are deployed at airports, bus stands and railway stations in their respective jurisdictions. 

"All suspected cases in the community should be screened and tested through both hospital-based surveillance and targeted surveillance," the guidelines said.

"Intensive risk communication is to be undertaken for the healthcare workers in the health facilities and in commonly identified sites such as skin and pediatric, OPDs, immunization clinics and intervention sites identified by NACO etc," the guidelines added.
   
Last month, an Ethiopian citizen, who had shown some symptoms of Monkeypox at Bengaluru airport, turned out to be a confirmed case of Chickenpox instead.

"A middle-aged Ethiopian citizen who had come to Bengaluru earlier this month was subjected to Monkeypox test after he was suspected to have Monkeypox symptoms. His report has now confirmed that it is a case of chickenpox," Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar had said in his tweet.

According to the World Health Organization, monkeypox is a viral zoonosis -- a virus transmitted to humans from animals -- with symptoms similar to small pox although clinically less severe.

Monkeypox typically manifests itself with fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications. It is usually a self-limiting disease with symptoms lasting for two to four weeks.

With new confirmed and suspected cases being reported, the Centre formed a task force Monday to monitor the situation and decide on response initiatives.