Topic: COVID-19 & Monkeypox Update 

August 6, 2022, Saturday; 9.30-10am

• South Africa: In the last week, there were 50-60 new cases in the last week, but no deaths were recorded. The National Department of Health and the CDC are no longer reporting daily Covid statistics. Covid-19 data is now being reported on a weekly basis. The cases are very mild and due to BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants. Other viral infections such as influenza, parainfluenza, are rising in numbers and hospital beds are mostly occupied by these patients with pneumonia. The borders are now fully open. Most people have stopped wearing masks. The vaccination is very slow; many people are not opting to take the second and third doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. Another wave is expected in September. Two cases of monkeypox have been reported, but they have no recent travel history.

• India Update: There have been around 20,000 cases since the last few days. Although there has not been a sharp rise in numbers, the cases continue to occur. Delhi has seen a rise in daily cases in the last 3-4 days to around 2000. Masking is not mandatory and is also not routinely practiced. No restrictions in public gatherings. Very few hospitalizations and are mostly in the elderly and those with comorbidities. Antigen negativity now takes 10 days, while earlier it was 7 days. Vaccination has taken a backseat. The number of booster doses has come down. Ten cases of monkeypox have been reported. There has been one mortality. Most cases are in travelers from overseas. But 2 cases in Delhi are due to local spread. An indigenous vaccine for monkeypox may take a year, but blanket prophylactic vaccination has not been advised. Infections are from human to human. The government has released guidelines for prevention of monkeypox. Cases have to be in strict isolation for 21 days (the longest incubation period), and contacts have to be in quarantine for the same duration. As of yet, it does not appear to be a threat but precautions are being taken.

• Japan Update: Around 200,000 daily new cases are reported, but most are very mild or asymptomatic. The ERs are crowded, which poses a difficulty in managing other emergency cases. Booster vaccination for the elderly and the medical staff is ongoing. There are two reported cases of monkeypox, both travelers.
• The United States has declared monkeypox outbreak as a public health emergency. The number of reported cases has increased to more than 6600 from 5000 in the last week.

Participants

Member National Medical Associations

Dr Marthanda Pillai, India Member World Medical Council, Advisor CMAAO

Dr Akhtar Hussain, South Africa

Dr Marie Uzawa Urabe, Japan

Invitees

Dr EC Ng

Dr Patricia La’Brooy

Dr S Sharma, Editor IJCP Group

Moderator

Mr Saurabh Aggarwal