English PageIssue 312 (8) Asian Tribune July 29, 2022www.asiantribune.ca.
English PageIssue 312 (9) Asian Tribune July 29, 2022EditorialTackling monkeypoxEVEN as India’s daily caseloadof Covid-19 is hovering around 20,000,the detection of a few cases ofmonkeypox has presented a new challengefor the health authorities. - Reutersfile photoEVEN as India’s daily caseloadof Covid-19 is hovering around 20,000,the detection of a few cases ofmonkeypox has presented a new challengefor the health authorities. TheWorld Health Organisation has declaredthe monkeypox outbreak a ‘public healthemergency of international concern’—regarded as the highest level of alert.More than 16,000 cases have been reportedfrom 70-odd countries and atleast five deaths have occurred so far.Apparently having learnt a lesson fromthe Covid pandemic, whose outbreakwas marked by chaos, confusion andpanic in the first half of 2020, India’s Ministryof Health and Family Welfare issueddetailed guidelines for the managementof monkeypox as early as May 31 thisyear, when no case had been reportedfrom the country. The ministry describedit as a ‘viral zoonotic disease with symptomssimilar to smallpox, although withless clinical severity.’ It can spreadthrough both kinds of transmission —human-to-human and animal-to-human.A thorough epidemiological investigationof the current cases willthrow more light on the disease and theways in which it can be controlled. Beingless contagious and rarely fatal,monkeypox does not call for the ringingof alarm bells. At the same time, thereis no room for complacency, consideringhow rapidly diseases get transmittedacross our populous country. Theemphasis should be on round-the-clocksurveillance, along with prompt isolationof the confirmed cases and keepingtheir close contacts in quarantine.The screening of internationaltravellers arriving in India had left a lot tobe desired during the early months ofthe Covid pandemic. There should beno laxity on this count now, even as it isequally important to minimise disruptionsand ensure that passengers arenot harassed. With most of the infectionsbeing reported from Europe, theEuropean Commission has approved asmallpox vaccine for use againstmonkeypox. India might have to take acall on vaccination if the caseloadshoots up in the next few weeks. A calibrated,data-driven response can preventthe situation from spinning out ofcontrol. Proactively countering misinformationand providing transparencywould be no less vital for allayingpeople’s fears.Yash SharmaCombating religious phobiasSwavlamban: A call for defence indigenisationEditorial TeamProf . Harjinder Walia,Ph.D (Journalism)Former Head of JournalismPunjabi Universty Patiala. (Punjab) IndiaPatronYash Sharma,M.Sc (Hons), DMMPublisher & Editor in Chief780-200-0246Sat Paul KaushalAssociate Editor, Calgary403 903 8500Raghbir BilaspuriBureau Chief ( Punjabi)Sunny SharmaBureau Chief (English)Atul Seth, CPA,CGAFinancial & Management ConsultantTejinder Singh BhatejaAdvisor(Marketing)587 889 2340Anita SharmaM.A.(Hindi)Bureau Chief (Hindi)www.asiantribune.ca.