Monkeypox: Thermal scanning at airports

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru

There is no need to panic about monkeypox as the state government is taking all precautionary measures including thermal screening at airports and strict surveillance in districts bordering Kerala where some cases have been reported, said Health and Medical Education Minister minister Dr K. Sudhakar. Speaking to the media after a high- level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monkeypox here on Tuesday, he said World Health Organisation has declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on July 22. About 20,000 cases have been reported in 80 countries across the world. No cases have been reported in Karnataka so far. There were 3 suspects of which the two in Bengaluru have tested negative while another suspect, a Belgium national from Uttara Kannada district was subjected to the test and his report is awaited. Designated hospitals Epidemic Diseases Hospital in Bengaluru and Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru have been identified as designated hospitals for isolation of monkeypox suspects. Confirmed cases will be isolated and treated for 21 days until the rashes on the skin are cured, he said. The minister said fever, rashes on skin, swelling of lymph nodes are common symptoms of monkey pox and the govt has already issued a circular for mandatory thermal screening at airports and other entry points. All district administration officials have been alerted and instructed to take precautionary measures particularly in districts bordering Kerala. Studies indicate that monkeypox is not as contagious as Covid and spreads only when a person is in prolonged contact with the infected person. “ I urge people to maintain hygiene and follow all precautionary measures” doctor sudhakar added