HUMAN MONKEYPOX DETECTED FIRST TIME IN INDIA: ROLE OF TRADITIONAL HERBAL TREATMENT

This overview highlights about the recent detection of human monkeypox viral infection in India. As of December 2022, there are 20 confirmed human monkeypox virus infection cases have been reported from India. Monkeypox is caused by monkeypox virus which is an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus that belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family. Monkeypox is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, sex with an infected person, or with material contaminated with the virus. There are two distinct Genetic Clades of the monkeypox virus: the central African (Congo Basin) Clade and the West African Clade. The Congo Basin Clade has historically caused more severe disease and was thought to be more transmissible. WHO has considered monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern. Vaccines used during the smallpox eradication programme also provided protection against monkeypox. Monkeypox typically presents clinically with fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications. The most prominent symptoms of monkeypox, are people with monkeypox have pockmarks or vesicles or postules on the face, palms and soles. As a precaution, India has increased surveillance, imposed travel restrictions as monkeypox reaches multiple nations in the first week of June, 2022. The herbal treatment options for controlling monkeypox virus and antiviral activities of the plants have been listed.