Ahmedabad Civil Hospital has set up an isolation ward with eight beds for patients infected with monkeypox.
Although no cases of monkeypox have been reported in Gujarat, the hospital believes it is better to be prepared for the possibility. The ward can accommodate up to eighteen patients if necessary.
The news comes as India recorded its fourth monkeypox case in Delhi yesterday. A 34-year-old man, with no recent history of international travel, was tested positive for the virus. Earlier three cases were reported in Kerala.
Hospital’s Superintendent Doctor Rakesh Joshi said, “Monkeypox cases have been reported in India and so it is important to be prepared for every situation. An isolation ward that has been set up is equipped with all required facilities. It currently has 8 beds, but it can be increased to 18 beds if required.”
Monkeypox is rarely seen outside of Africa’s western and central regions. However, a few cases of the viral disease were discovered two months ago in the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Spain. This alarmed the scientists and spread panic throughout the world, which braced itself for another threat. After Coronavirus, this disease has become the next potential pandemic.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued an alert for monkeypox and declared the virus as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).