Fool-proof monkeypox screening plan needed, say experts

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

Virologists said that dealing with monkeypox required a holistic approach and mere screening at Bengaluru airport will not work.

They insisted that screening would work if, alongside the city, all other airports are screened under a national protocol. They added that much depended on training of the medical fraternity and their familiarity with monkeypox for the response to be adequate.

Bengaluru and by extension, Karnataka’s strategy on the viral disease is unclear. On May 21, the Union government had issued directives ordering that passengers be screened for symptoms of monkeypox. Consequently, on May 22, the State government had asked the airports to isolate people displaying symptoms. An advisory spelling out the symptoms and instructions had been sent by the health department under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP).

However, authorities at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) said that they hadn’t been screening passengers for monkeypox. Bengaluru airport receives flights from 23 countries, many of which have reported cases of monkeypox. They include the US, UK and Netherlands.

Dr Jacob John, noted virologist and professor at Department of Community Health at Christian Medical College, Vellore, said that there could be no Bengaluru-specific policy, adding that all entry points in the country had to be screened. “Screening is not fool-proof and is heavily labour intensive and you may miss it. Screening is a good idea if you can screen and if Bengaluru is the only airport through which it can come. None of these conditions hold good. It can come from any international airport. It can come from any country,” he said.

Protocol must

“Will the first doctor who sees a patient with monkeypox either on the groin or on the hand diagnose or suspect it? Will the doctor know how to collect samples and where to send them? All this has to be taken care of first. When everything is in place, then you establish screening at every international airport simultaneously on a standard protocol. Otherwise, somebody comes to Hyderabad airport with monkeypox and then travels to Bengaluru by road. Finished!” he added.

Dr Ravi, virologist at National Institute of Medical Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), however, said that the outbreak wasn’t a major concern. “I don’t think it’s an alarming thing that we should start screening at airports,” he said.

Disease a pandemic: WHN

On June 24, World Health Network (WHN) had declared monkeypox a pandemic even as nearly 3,500 cases of the disease had been detected. World Health Organisation (WHO) is considering doing the same.