SHILLONG, Aug 4: As a part of its preparation to combat monkeypox, the state government is setting up two isolation centres, one at Umsawli in Shillong while the other in Tura.
Official sources said although Meghalaya has not yet recorded a single case of monkeypox, yet the government is not taking any chances given its experience of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Officials said it will be a challenging task to identify, test and treat the cases.
The same RT-PCR test can be relied upon. As of now, the testing arrangements will be available only in Shillong and Tura, they added.
The Meghalaya government has already organised orientation programmes for all districts about the disease.
Stating that there is no treatment specifically for monkeypox virus infections, the officials added that monkeypox and smallpox viruses are genetically similar, which means antiviral drugs and vaccines developed to protect against smallpox may be used to prevent and treat monkeypox virus infections.
Antivirals, such as tecovirimat (TPOXX), may be recommended for people who are more likely to get severely ill, like patients with weakened immune systems, the officials said.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the state machinery is on alert.
“It is a matter of concern. That is why, even from the COVID point of view, we are still screening, checking and seeing the vaccination part. In general, the overall health system is on an alert mode in every aspect,” the CM said.
Till Tuesday, altogether eight cases of monkeypox were reported in India, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had told the Rajya Sabha. The first three cases were reported in Kerala in July.
Officials said 90% of the cases are coming up in countries which did not report any such cases in the past.
The first human case of monkeypox was recorded in 1970. Prior to the 2022 outbreak, it was reported in several central and western African countries.
Previously, almost all monkeypox cases in people outside of Africa were linked to international travel to countries where the disease commonly occurs or through imported animals.
Monkeypox was discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research. Despite being named “monkeypox,” the source of the disease remains unknown.
