EVEN as India’s daily caseload of Covid-19 is hovering around 20,000, the detection of a few cases of monkeypox has presented a new challenge for the health authorities. The World Health Organisation has declared the monkeypox outbreak a ‘public health emergency of international concern’— regarded as the highest level of alert. More than 16,000 cases have been reported from 70-odd countries and at least five deaths have occurred so far. Apparently having learnt a lesson from the Covid pandemic, whose outbreak was marked by chaos, confusion and panic in the first half of 2020, India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued detailed guidelines for the management of monkeypox as early as May 31 this year, when no case had been reported from the country. The ministry described it as a ‘viral zoonotic disease with symptoms similar to smallpox, although with less clinical severity.’ It can spread through both kinds of transmission — human-to-human and animal-to-human.

A thorough epidemiological investigation of the current cases will throw more light on the disease and the ways in which it can be controlled. Being less contagious and rarely fatal, monkeypox does not call for the ringing of alarm bells. At the same time, there is no room for complacency, considering how rapidly diseases get transmitted across our populous country. The emphasis should be on round-the-clock surveillance, along with prompt isolation of the confirmed cases and keeping their close contacts in quarantine.

The screening of international travellers arriving in India had left a lot to be desired during the early months of the Covid pandemic. There should be no laxity on this count now, even as it is equally important to minimise disruptions and ensure that passengers are not harassed. With most of the infections being reported from Europe, the European Commission has approved a smallpox vaccine for use against monkeypox. India might have to take a call on vaccination if the caseload shoots up in the next few weeks. A calibrated, data-driven response can prevent the situation from spinning out of control. Proactively countering misinformation and providing transparency would be no less vital for allaying people’s fears.