HUMANS DREAD the family of poxviruses. One of its Members smallpox killed over 300 million in just eight decades before being eliminated in 1977. So, when one of its cousins the milder monkeypox virus infected a person in the UK on May 6, 2022, the world took note of it.
Human cases of monkeypox are considered rare outside Africa, and only eight cases had been reported in non-endemic areas till the start of 2022. This trend changed in May. In less than one month after the UK case was confirmed, 34 countries across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, South America and North America reported 824 confirmed and 1,408 suspected cases of monkeypox virus infection.
Even India, which has never reported monkeypox cases, has rolled out an extensive surveillance in response to the current outbreak. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the public health risk of the current outbreak as "moderate" citing its concurrent outbreaks in geographical areas without known epidemiological links to endemic countries in west or central Africa. By far, this is the most geographically widespread outbreak of the virus in 50 years. On June 1, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general, WHO, said that the sudden appearance of monkeypox in multiple countries across the world indicates that the virus has been spreading undetected for some time. "It is unclear how long the virus has been spreading undetected outside Africa," says Rosamund Lewis, monkeypox technical lead for WHO. "We don't really know whether it's too late to contain."
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
