Monkeypox scare: Odisha on alert after India reports first suspected case 

A day after the Centre said that a suspected Monkeypox (Mpox) has been identified in a young male patient in the country, the director of Health Services in Odisha, Dr Bijay Mohapatra on Monday said that the Health Department is fully prepared for the management of the rare viral infection in the State.

Speaking to the media, Mohapatra said, “The suspected man has been isolated. As per the protocol, his health is being examined. There is no need to panic.”

A high alert has been sounded at all international entry points to keep a watch on the people travelling to India. The centre has taken adequate measures to check the travel history of people visiting India. If a person comes from an affected country, s/he is kept in isolation and his/her health condition is monitored, said Mohapatra.

Monitoring of passengers at International airports has been intensified. As there is no confirmed case of Monkeypox in India so there is no need to panic, the senior health department official said.

Sharing symptoms of the rare viral infection, Mohapatra said fevers, headaches, muscle aches and painful boils on the skin are signs of the disease. 

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe.

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Monkeypox typically presents 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 from 2 to 4 weeks.