Cuttack: Keeping in view of rising cases of monkeypox cases in the country, the Odisha Government has made SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack the nodal centre for management of the rare viral infection.
The SCB has been the nerve center of Odisha’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic since its outbreak here in March 2020.
With the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring the global Monkeypox outbreak a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ (PHEIC) which is one step below that of a ‘pandemic’, the Odisha government has sounded an alert to health officials to deal with the possible Monkeypox cases too.
A team comprising of doctors from various departments such as medicine, gynaecology, microbiology, dermatology and pediatric has been formed by the hospital administration.
Currently, the premier health institute is prepared with a separate isolation ward and four ICU beds for the virus.
“There are no reports of monkeypox cases in Odisha so far. As there are no restrictions on international travel, the chances of the virus intruding the state cannot be ruled out,” Dr Jayant Panda, Head of Medicine Department said.
Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe, the WHO said.
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