Monkeypox alert: Odisha govt high level meeting today

The Odisha government is all set to hold a high-level meeting on Saturday to chalk out strategies to contain any possible outbreak of Monkeypox virus in the State amid reports of detection of the viral disease in some other states of India.

The high-level meeting will be chaired by Health Minister Naba Das at 4 pm today. Top health officials from the State including Health Secretary Nikunja Dhal, Health Director Bijay Mohapatra, Public Health chief Niranjan Mishra, Family Welfare Director Bijay Panigrahi and DMET chief will also be present.

Even though there has been no reports of any Monkeypox cases in the State so far, the Health department however has not ruled out chances of the viral infection as there is no restriction on foreign travel.

In order to deal with the situation, Odisha government has already decided to keep a tab on foreign returnees as part of its measures to contain its spread. 

The government has made SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack the nodal centre for management of monkeypox. A separate isolation ward and four ICU beds have been kept ready for suspects and patients.

A team of doctors from various departments has been constituted to treat the patients. 

Apart from that, CDMOs, municipal commissioners and superintendents of medical colleges and hospitals have been asked to take steps for isolation of suspects and patients after detection besides focusing on continued monitoring and timely treatment.