Health department on alert of monkey pox in Gaya.
Patna, September 10: The health department of Bihar has heightened its alertness regarding monkey pox infection, in the international destination Gaya.
A dedicated team of health department has been stationed at Gaya International Airport to screen passengers, especially those arriving from international destinations.
A health department team, consisting of a doctor, paramedical staff, and a nurse, has been deployed at the airport for the screening process.
All international passengers arriving at Gaya Airport are required to provide details of their travel history from the past 21 days.
This is to ascertain whether they have been in regions endemic to monkey pox.
Following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of monkey pox as a public health emergency, the screening of passengers at Gaya Airport has been made mandatory.
If any passenger is found to be symptomatic or suspected of carrying the virus, the officials of health department will isolate and treat them at Magadh Medical College Hospital.
As of August 2024, monkey pox cases have been reported in various countries, like South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Pakistan, Sweden and others. India has reported cases in Kerala and Delhi.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has issued an advisory outlining symptoms such as skin rashes, fever, swollen lymph nodes, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, sore throat and cough. The advisory stresses that monkey pox is generally self-healing but precautions, including isolation and antiseptic cleaning, are necessary to prevent the spread of infection.
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The officials of health department at Gaya International Airport are taking these precautions seriously to prevent any potential outbreak in the region, given the international nature of the destination.
EOM.