BBMP ‘extra’ vigilant about monkeypox symptoms

By: Maqsood Maniyar / NT

Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahangara Palike (BBMP) said that they have been screening for monkeypox symptoms in the city for the past 20 days. 

They claim that they were screening people at bus stands and railway stations. Symptoms like fever and rashes turn into contagious blisters and pustules.
BBMP Chief Health Officer (CHO) Balasundar said that they have been vigilant about the disease for about three weeks.

“We started (screening for monkeypox) more than 20 days ago, especially for people coming in from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra etc. We examine children for rashes and fever. We are doing this at bus stands, railway stations and malls as well,” he said.

The officer added that they hadn’t detected any cases yet, but if they did, the protocol dictated that they should refer patients to a select few government hospitals. 

“We look for symptoms and if we find anything, we refer them to the Victoria or Bowring Hospital,” he added. 

“Monkeypox is a new disease that has never come to India. This is the concern, but it is not a fatal disease. So far, wherever it has been detected, there have been no fatalities. This is just vigilance, and the symptoms are visible, with blisters and pustules that show. It may leave scars as well,” he said.
“We advise that if you notice any child below six years or five years who display such symptoms, immediately take them to a paediatrician or a nearby government hospital. Consider the possibility of monkeypox,” Balasundar added. 

No vigilance at airport 
despite State directive
Authorities at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) said that they hadn’t been screening passengers for monkeypox and they were only on the lookout for Covid as per protocol. 
They added that they acted as per Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) guidelines, but they hadn’t received any so far. This is despite the fact that on May 22, the Karnataka government had asked the airports to isolate people displaying symptoms of the disease. An advisory spelling out the symptoms and instructions has been sent by the health department under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP).

“Not for monkeypox, no directive has reached us yet. We have just been screening two per cent of international travellers for Covid since February. Airlines choose the passengers randomly, and the health officials from the government test them at the airport. Until and unless there is a MOCA directive, we can’t do it,” said an airport official who didn’t want to be named.