New Delhi: 

Delhi reported its first monkeypox case today-fourth, in India, with the previous three cases reported from Kerala- as a 31-year-old man with no foreign travel history was diagnosed with the viral disease. 

The monkeypox outbreak, which the World Health Organization has termed "unusual" has affected nearly 17,000 people in 74 countries with the UN health agency sounding its highest alarm, calling the infection's spread "a global health emergency" yesterday. 

"The global monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern," WHO chief Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. 

Although,  WHO said that as per its assessment the threat of monkeypox spread is moderate globally, the risk is very high in Europe.  

Monkeypox: 

Monkeypox is an infectious viral disease, that can occur in humans and some animals. Symptoms include fever with swollen lymph node and a rash that to blister and then crusts over. The time from exposure to onset of symptoms ranges from five to twenty-one days. The duration of symptoms is typically two to four weeks. There may be mild symptoms, and it may occur without any symptoms being known. The classic presentation of fever and muscle pain, followed by swollen glands, with lesions all at the same stage, has not found to be common to all outbreaks. Cases may be severe, especially in children, pregnant women or people with suppressed immune systems.  

Sign and symptoms 

Transmission : The monkeypox virus is transmitted by close physical contact, which can include skin-to-skin contact, exchange of body fluids and transmission via respiratory droplets at close range, though it does not spread through air over long distance. The virus can also potentially spread via clothes, bed linens or surfaces that have been in contact with fluid from lesions, although this appears to be much less common. It is not yet known whether the virus is transmitted via fluid. Before the current outbreak, monkeypox not transmitted from person to person.

The "alarming" 2022 Monkeypox outbreak 

Monkeypox, which was first discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970, is endemic in humans in nine African countries, but this year's outbreak reflects its spread in non-endemic countries, thereby signifying increased community transmission of the infection. 

" We have never seen an outbreak like this. It is indeed alarming," WHO expert Dr. Rosamond Lewis said earlier in a video shared by the world health body.

Moderate or not? 

The initial symptoms of monkeypox include a high fever, swollen lymph nodes and a blistery chickenpox-like rash. In some cases, patients may also suffer from muscle ache, lesions, and chills. Most of the infected persons do not become seriously ill because of which the virus has a fatality ratio of three to six percent. Recovery time to full health for a monkeypox patient can be within three to four weeks.

The disease has, therefore, in most of its assessments been regarded as "moderate" by the WHO 

Jabs to the rescue?

WHO has not recommended mass vaccination against the spreading virus, but in May this year the United States began to administer smallpox vaccines, which are considered effective against monkeypox. 

Amid escalating case numbers, the European Union has recommended smallpox vaccine Impanel to be authorized against monkeypox.  

Are you at risk?

Patients at high risk include young children, pregnant women, and those who are immunosuppressed or with severe or complicated infections, WHO has said, adding that newborns of infected mothers should be constantly monitored, and infant feeding practices should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.