Odisha Govt On Alert After Centre’s Advisory On Monkeypox, Says Health Director

Bhubaneswar: With cases of monekypox rising suddenly in some of European countries, the Odisha government is on alert as per the advisory of the Centre, said director, Health Services Bijay Mohapatra.

Speaking to media persons, here on Saturday, Mohapatra said the government is fully alert after the Centre’s interim advisory to keep a close watch on the monkeypox situation. Though there has been no reports of monkeypox cases from anywhere in the state, the government is leaving nothing to chances, he added.

The Centre has directed National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to keep a close watch on suspected cases.

All international entry points – airports, seaports and land border crossings – will be under surveillance. Samples of travellers from Africa who show monkeypox symptoms will be sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for investigation, the directive of the Health Ministry issued on Friday stated.

The Ministry has also advised the states to remain alert about people who show an otherwise unexplained rash or report to have come in contact with confirmed or suspected monkeypox cases.

Such cases will be accommodated in designated healthcare facilities in isolation until recovery and the District Surveillance Officer of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme has to be informed about them, the advisory said.