Page 25 - Insurance Times JUNE 2022

DOES THE HEALTH

INSURANCE POLICY

PAY FOR

MONKEYPOX?

onkeypox is a rare disease found in central be between 5 to 21 days. Initially a rash will appear which
M and West Africa. It kills as many as 1 in 10 starts as red discoloration in the skin. It starts on the face and
people who contract it. Cases of Monkeypox
then progresses to the arms and legs, then hands and feet,
(part of the orthopoxvirus genus) have been
rashesbecomes raised on the skin and they look like blisters.
reported in several countries, including England, Canada, US, and then the rest of the body. After one to two days these
Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Australia and Sweden.
The current outbreak has not yet been linked to any areas
Monkeypox is similar to smallpox, but less severe.
where the virus is usually found. This is the first time
Monkeypox can cause rashes, fever, headaches, muscle and monkeypox cases across many countries at the same time
backaches and swollen lymph nodes. The monkeypox of in people who have not traveled to Africa.
Congo strain has a 10% fatality rate, while the West Africa
Observing the patterns of transmission so far, it can be said
strain has a 1% fatality rate. There is no specific treatment
that the current outbreak is not typical. The cases have
for monkeypox, but the smallpox vaccine, antivirals and
primarily, but not exclusively, been identified in men who
other treatments can be used to control an outbreak.
have sex with men. However monkeypox is not a gay
The monkeypox virus spreads when a person comes in disease...anybody can contract monkeypox through close
contact with an infected animal, human or material contact.
contaminated with the virus. It is believed that most human-
As of May 21, the World Health Organization (WHO)
to-human transmission spreads through large respiratory
reported 98 confirmed cases and 22 probable cases. The U.S.
droplets from prolonged face-to-face contact. It is also
has one confirmed one case in Boston. Cases of monkeypox
possible for monkeypox to spread through contact with a
have not been reported in India yet. It must be kept in mind
lesion from a rash or bodily fluids.
that India has a large number of international flyers from
Keep in mind that monkeypox symptoms start to appear one Africa and Europe daily. The health officials who screen
to two weeks after exposure, but the incubation period can travellers at the airports are not trained to identify
monkeypox rash through physical checks.

About the author We are still in the early days of this outbreak, so there is a
lot to learn about monkeypox. The way coronavirus was not
Dr. K Raja Gopal Reddy
covered under health insurance policy till the Regulator's
PhD, FIII, FCII(UK), FLMI (US),
amendment of the health insurance policy wording, paving
Chartered Insurance Practitioner
way for policies like the 'Corona kavach', Insurancepe
Principal Officer
Topspot Insurance Broking Private Limited believes that Monkeypox is not covered by the existing
(Commercially known as insurancepe) health insurance policies.
The Insurance Times, June 2022 25