With at least 12 countries across the world reporting 150 Monkeypox cases so far, the Government has decided to adopt a wait and watch policy besides sounding alert on the airports and seaports.
Sources said that the decision will also be firmed up once the WHO issues a guideline in the matter which will give a clear picture about the severity of the situation.
The Centre has already issued an alert to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and asked them to keep a close watch on the situation evolving in relation to the monkeypox cases abroad.
Doctors said that one should not let their guard down as there is no need to panic. We need to keep a surveillance on how it is evolving, and how many people are getting affected. Fortunately, it is not as severe as smallpox," said Dr Jugal Kishore, head of the Community Department, Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.
He said that the WHO may issue guidelines in this regard soon on how fast the monkeypox is spreading. There is a need to keep a watch on borders and international travelers and ensure that those having rash-like symptoms or reporting fever are kept in quarantine as per protocol.
Dr Kishore said that the virus can spread through touching or using clothes or towels of someone who is infected; touching monkeypox skin blisters; coughs or sneezing. Hence, health hygiene is a must. Also, those venturing in wildlife should stop doing so for some time, he added.
More than 80 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in at least 12 countries, said the World Health Organization, without naming any country.
Another 50 suspected cases are being investigated, the WHO has said and warned that more cases are likely to be reported. Infections have been confirmed in nine European countries, as well as the US, Canada and Australia.
So far, public health agencies in Europe have confirmed cases in the UK, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Sweden.
WHO's Europe regional director Hans Kluge warned that "as we enter the summer season... with mass gatherings, festivals and parties, I am concerned that transmission could accelerate". He added that all but one of the recent cases had no relevant travel history to areas where monkeypox was endemic.