Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian Inspects Trichy Airport for Monkeypox Prevention
Trichy (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 3: With the threat of Monkeypox virus looming, state governments have begun measures to prevent any spread of the disease. Tamil Nadu Minister for Medical and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian on Tuesday inspected the screening of Monkeypox at the Trichy International Airport to ensure that authorities are following the department’s instructions on Monkeypox prevention. He was accompanied by School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and Trichy District Collector Pradeep Kumar along with other health officials.
Earlier, the Tamil Nadu health minister had inspected airports in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced its second public health emergency of international concern due to Monkeypox. The new strain of this virus (Clad-1) is considered to be more transmissible and has higher mortality rates.
India has developed its own home-grown indigenous RT-PCR testing kit to fight against Monkeypox, which has been approved by the Central Protection Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). The IMDX Monkeypox Detection RT-PCR Assay by Siemens Healthineers has received manufacturing approval from the CDSCO. This is a significant achievement for the ‘Make in India’ initiative and a critical advancement in the fight against the Monkeypox public health emergency.
On August 17, a detailed review of the Monkeypox situation and the preparedness was taken by the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, in a meeting with the senior officials of the Ministry. There are no reported cases of Monkeypox in India as of date. In the meeting chaired by the Union Health Minister, it was decided that as a matter of abundant caution, certain measures such as sensitizing the health units at all the airports, seaports, and ground crossings; readying the testing laboratories (32 in number); and gearing up health facilities for detecting, isolating, and managing any case are put in place.
In the meeting, it was noted that Monkeypox infections are usually self-limiting, lasting between 2-4 weeks, and patients generally recover with supportive management. The transmission requires prolonged close contact with an infected case and is generally through the sexual route, direct contact with body/lesion fluid, or contaminated clothing/linen of an infected person.
Doubts Revealed
Tamil Nadu -: Tamil Nadu is a state in the southern part of India. It is known for its rich culture, temples, and beautiful landscapes.
Health Minister -: A Health Minister is a government official responsible for public health, hospitals, and medical services in a region or country.
Ma Subramanian -: Ma Subramanian is the current Health Minister of Tamil Nadu. He oversees health-related activities and policies in the state.
Trichy Airport -: Trichy Airport, also known as Tiruchirappalli International Airport, is an airport in Tamil Nadu. It serves the city of Tiruchirappalli and nearby areas.
Monkeypox -: Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by a virus. It can spread from animals to humans and between humans, causing symptoms like fever and rash.
School Education Minister -: A School Education Minister is a government official responsible for schools and education policies in a region or country.
Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi -: Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi is the current School Education Minister of Tamil Nadu. He looks after the education system in the state.
Trichy District Collector -: A District Collector is a government official in charge of administration and governance in a district. Pradeep Kumar is the District Collector of Trichy.
WHO -: WHO stands for the World Health Organization. It is a global organization that works to improve health and fight diseases around the world.
Public health emergency -: A public health emergency is a situation where a disease or health condition poses a serious risk to people’s health and requires immediate action.
RT-PCR testing kit -: An RT-PCR testing kit is a tool used to detect the presence of a virus in a person’s body. It is commonly used for diagnosing diseases like COVID-19 and Monkeypox.
CDSCO -: CDSCO stands for the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization. It is an Indian government agency that approves and regulates medicines and medical devices.
Union Health Minister -: A Union Health Minister is a government official responsible for health policies and services at the national level in India.
Jagat Prakash Nadda -: Jagat Prakash Nadda is a senior Indian politician who has served as the Union Health Minister. He oversees health-related activities and policies across India.
Sensitizing health units -: Sensitizing health units means making healthcare workers aware and prepared to handle a specific health issue, like Monkeypox.
Testing labs -: Testing labs are laboratories where medical tests are conducted to diagnose diseases and health conditions.
Health facilities -: Health facilities are places like hospitals and clinics where people go to receive medical care and treatment.
