Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla Tuesday said his firm is conducting research to find a vaccine against monkeypox as cases rise in the country.
Mr Poonawalla is learnt to have briefed Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on the subject during a meeting at the Nirman Bhawan here on Tuesday.
India has so far reported eight cases of monkeypox, the latest a man from Delhi.
The Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV), which functions under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has already isolated monkeypox virus from the clinical specimen of a patient.
The ICMR on July 27 invited expression of interest (EOI) proposing to handover the virus strain to interested Indian vaccine manufacturers, pharma companies and in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) for developing an indigenous vaccine and diagnostic kits.
Meanwhile, a task force on monkeypox has been constituted to closely monitor the emerging situation in the country and decide on response initiatives.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently declared monkeypox a global public health emergency of international concern.
According to the WHO, monkeypox is a viral zoonosis -- a virus transmitted to humans from animals -- with symptoms similar to smallpox 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-limited disease with symptoms lasting for two to four weeks.
The 'Guidelines on Management of Monkeypox Disease' issued by the Centre, stated that human-to-human transmission occurs primarily through large respiratory droplets generally requiring prolonged close contact.
It can also be transmitted through direct contact with body fluids or lesions, and indirect contact with lesion material such as through contaminated clothing or linen of an infected person. Animal-to-human transmission may occur by bite or scratch of infected animals or through bush meat preparation.
The incubation period is usually from six to 13 days and the case fatality rate of monkeypox has historically ranged up to 11 per cent in the general population and higher among children. In recent times, the case fatality rate has been around three to six per cent.
The symptoms include lesions which usually begin within one to three days from the onset of fever, lasting for around two to four weeks and are often described as painful until the healing phase when they become itchy. A notable predilection for palm and soles is characteristic of monkeypox, the guidelines stated.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Karan Johar Breaks Silence On Selling Stake To Adar Poonawalla, Jokes About Renaming Company to "Pharma Productions" Mpox: Recent Cases, Signs & What To Do If You're At Risk Here's All You Need To Know About Clade 1 Variant Of Mpox Russia's Firing Of ICBM On Ukraine Is Weapon's 1st Combat Use In History Amazon Employee Greets Friend At Wedding, Dies Of Cardiac Arrest This Asian City Is Emerging As Sex Tourism Hub. It's Not Where You Think Noted Surgeon Dr Mathew Varghese Named 'The One International' South Korea Court Jails Ex-Fiance Of Olympic Medalist For 13 Years Trump Pick Matt Gaetz Withdraws As Nominee For US Attorney General Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.