Sri Lanka braces for possible monkeypox threat

Colombo, September 10 (Daily Mirror) - In the wake of India recording a suspected case of mpox, the local health authorities continue to ramp up its vigilance.

According to India’s health ministry, the cases was found in a man who recently travelled from a country suffering an outbreak of the virus.

The young male patient has been isolated in a hospital and is in stable condition, the ministry said in a statement, adding that the world’s most populous nation had “robust measures” in place.

The ministry did not specify which strain of the mpox virus the patient might have, but tests were being conducted to confirm the infection.

The clade 1b variety of mpox has triggered global concern because it seems to spread more easily through routine close contact.

The World Health Organisation's (WHO) recently declared the infectious disease a public health emergency of international concern.

According to sources in Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry, there hasn’t been a major increase in cases and thus, the imminent threat from monkeypox is minimal as contingency measures are in place.

However, a senior official who did not want to be quoted said, the Ministry has taken steps for extra-vigil.

Steps being taken include heightened monitoring at airports and seaports, as most reported cases so far involve individuals with a travel history to countries with significantly higher case numbers.

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

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.