Monkeypox

One of the impacts of environmental destruction, climate change and a globalized economy is the increasing tendency of diseases in animals to jump to humans to cause major pandemics and health issues.

Whether it was AIDS in the past or COVID-19 now and the latest being monkeypox, we will have to adapt to a future of pandemics and diseases crossing borders.

While disease has always been a constant companion through human history, what is different now is that the conditions have never been better for their spread.

As people break into nature and destroy it they will not only encounter dead trees and rare animals, but also the specter of dangerous viruses not known to us.

Viruses in their original form are usually not as dangerous, but once it has enough human hosts its starts mutating to become more transmissible. Given the rapid spread of monkeypox to 11 countries and growing it indicates that something has possibly made the virus more infectious.

This has caused enough worry for the WHO to call a special meeting on weather to declare it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the same status given to COVID-19 in January 2020.

We should not panic but keep a close eye on this virus and prepare ourselves for any eventuality.

The fatality rate of monkeypox varies from 1 to 10% and so it is not to be taken lightly especially given the wounds that it leads to in people and how it is particularly deadly for children.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught Bhutan important lessons in dealing with a pandemic and in case monkeypox turns into a global epidemic then we will have the experience to deal with it.

Bhutan is currently in the process of relaxations as we open up but we should not hesitate to take scientific and early steps if the virus is spreading rapidly across the world, including getting possible vaccines or treatment.

Distrust and caution are the parents of security.
Benjamin Franklin