The number of cases increases again, WHO begins the hunt for monkeypox in Southeast Asia

According to The Hindu Times, ICMR-NIV is the testing unit that detected the first case of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the country and then isolated the virus, including the strains that needed attention.

The request came from the WHO office in India asking this laboratory to expand the scope of diagnostic testing, supporting neighboring Southeast Asian member countries when there are suspected cases.

Monkeypox virus – Photo: AP

According to WHO, Southeast Asia accounts for a quarter of the world’s population, 40% of the global poor, and about 30% of the global burden of disease. In many countries, capacity to test, diagnose and control emerging pathogens is limited.

According to ICMR-NIV Director Priya Abraham, this is not the first time India has extended its testing support to countries in the region. “We did it for Covid-19. For monkeypox, we have agreed in principle to support and will wait for the official request from the countries.”

Dr. Abraham said India had not yet detected any cases of monkeypox, but said recent outbreaks outside Africa were unusual. “We are currently applying a wait-and-see policy. There are two groups of labs at the institute ready to perform tests,” she added.

In an online briefing on May 26, Maria Van Kerhove, WHO senior epidemiologist, said that monkeypox has now spread to more than 20 countries that were not previously endemic and is expected to This number will increase further.

“We expect more cases. We are asking countries to strengthen surveillance” – news agency Reuters quoted Ms. Kerhove.

According to the latest WHO statistics, there are currently about 200 confirmed cases of monkeypox worldwide and more than 100 suspected cases, which have specific symptoms but have not been tested.