Kathmandu, August 19
The Ministry of Health and Population has said Nepal falls at risk of monkeypox infection (Mpox). According to Ministry Spokesperson Dr Prakash Budhathoki, the disease is spreading rapidly in neighbouring India, and Nepal is vulnerable to it, too.
Last year, a 60-year-old foreigner (female) was diagnosed with the Mpox virus in Nepal. The Ministry has already consulted with the experts concerned regarding preparations required for its prevention. As Budhathoki said, health desks based along the air and border transits and the federal, provincial and local levels have been instructed to remain vigilant to the infection risk and take measures accordingly.
The Ministry has designated hospitals and doctors in all seven provinces for the prevention and management of the infection. For the past few days, the African country Congo has been battling with Clade 1b.
This variant of Mpox is considered to be deadly. Since January this year, it has killed 548 people. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a health emergency over the spread of the virus. Mpox spreads through direct contact with the infected person or animal, skin-to-skin contact with Mpox rash or scabs from an infected, contact with fluid and saliva from the body of an infected, clothing, towels, bedding or objects used by the infected.
Fever, skin rash and bumps in between one and three days of the infection which appears in the face, palm and feet as well, as headache, muscle ache, bone ache, chills, and swollen lymph nodes are the symptoms of Mpox.
It may lead to the loss of eyesight, pneumonia, brain fever, miscarriage (among pregnant) and even death. The Ministry has hoped for a high level of cooperation from the civic- level in terms of adopting health protocols to prevent the risk which is, as the Ministry said, possible if the civic are ready for that.
