India releases guidelines on how to avoid monkeypox

The country has recorded its eighth case of the viral disease and one death

People queue to receive the monkeypox vaccine at a hospital in San Francisco, California. AP

California's governor declared a state of emergency over monkeypox, making it the third state in three days to take the step. AP

A man holds a sign calling for increased access to the monkeypox vaccine during a protest in San Francisco. AP

The mayor of San Francisco announced a local state of emergency over the growing number of monkeypox cases. AP

A pharmacist opens a freezer transport box containing the Jynneos vaccine for monkeypox in San Francisco. AP

Vials of single doses of the Jynneos shot for monkeypox are seen at the vaccine hub at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. AP

A pharmacist removes a tray of vials of the Jynneos vaccine for monkeypox from a box containing 20 doses. AP

People queue a monkeypox vaccination site in California. AP

A public health worker administers the monkeypox vaccine in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Nurses speak with a person looking to receive a monkeypox vaccine at a drive-through vaccination site at the Westchester Medical Centre in Valhalla, New York. Reuters

People protest during a rally calling for more government action to combat the spread of monkeypox at Foley Square in New York City. AFP

People protest during a rally over the US response to the monkeypox outbreak in Manhattan, New York City. AFP

People queue to receive the monkeypox vaccine before the opening of a new mass vaccination site in Brooklyn, New York City. AFP

A person waits to receive the monkeypox vaccine in New York City. AFP

India’s Health Ministry has released guidelines on how to avoid contracting monkeypox, a day after the country recorded its eighth case of the viral disease and one death.

People have been advised to use sanitisers, wear masks and gloves, and avoid sharing bed linen and clothes with those who have tested positive for monkeypox.

The ministry urged the public to refrain from stigmatising infected people and called on them to dismiss rumours or fake news about the virus.

It also set up a task force to monitor monkeypox cases, assist in the expansion of diagnostic centres and explore the possibility of vaccine development or sourcing.

Southern Kerala recorded the country's first case of the viral disease in July. The total has since gone up to four, with one death.

India’s capital New Delhi has reported three cases, the latest being a Nigerian man, 35, with no recent history of travel abroad.

A suspected case was also reported in western Rajasthan state after a man, 20, began to exhibit symptoms. He was admitted to a government hospital for treatment and his samples sent to a laboratory.

The Indian Council of Medical Research, the body responsible for the formulation, co-ordination and promotion of biomedical research, has invited organisations and scientists interested in developing a vaccine to submit an “expression of interest”.

“Like … during the time of Covid … our scientists who come forward should be given an isolated virus so that its vaccine can be developed,” Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said.

The government has begun to develop test kits and inoculations, he said.

Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease that originates in wild animals such as rodents and primates, and occasionally jumps to people. It belongs to the same virus family as smallpox, although it is less severe.

According to the World Health Organisation, it is transmitted from one person to another through direct contact with skin lesions, bodily fluids and respiratory droplets.

It is a self-limited disease, with symptoms lasting from two to four weeks. While severe cases can occur, the fatality ratio has hovered between 3 per cent and 6 per cent in recent times.

The viral disease, which was once considered endemic to parts of Africa, has spread around the world in the past few months, with about 20,000 people infected in more than 78 countries, most of them in Europe and North America.

The WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on Saturday.

Mr Mandaviya met Adar Poonawalla, chief executive of the Pune-based Serum Institute of India, to discuss the possibility of a developing a vaccine.

The institute was the first pharmaceutical company in the country to produce Covishield, the Indian version of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.