National News

‘Monkeypox Caused By Monkeys’, Says Alleged Writer Saba Naqvi; Netizens School Her On Virus, Refuses To Accept Mistake

August 23, 2024
The Commune

Alleged writer and a mouthpiece of the leftists and Islamists, Saba Naqvi, posted a series of ludicrous tweets about monkeypox, where she implied a connection between the virus and the rising monkey population in Delhi. Naqvi’s comments, which suggested that monkeypox is caused by monkeys and called for their population control plan, left netizens baffled and questioning her understanding of the virus.

Despite widespread ridicule and corrective responses from X users, Naqvi doubled down on her statements, citing the World Health Organization (WHO) to justify her erroneous claims. Her persistence in the face of factual errors raises severe concerns about the credibility of some of the voices shaping public discourse in India today.

Taking to her official X handle, she wrote a thread as if she had made a discovery that no one had done yet. She wrote, “Just witnessed a monkey attack in my park. The larger question is with #monkeypox declared a global epidemic, is there any plan for India and Delhi where monkey populations are rapidly increasing? Let’s get a plan from @MoHFW_INDIA and in Delhi from @msisodia @Saurabh_MLAgk @LtGovDelhi and any authority. Over time due to deforestation, I presume the monkey population has just increased. Delhi is a city of lovely parks but in many now it’s not safe to send children out as monkeys have taken over. Anyone who rules Delhi needs to make a plan to save public spaces from monkeys. And there must be a way to keep them out for instance in Lodhi garden I never see monkeys, but all south Delhi parks are now overrun including archaeological sites.”

Yes, you read that right.

According to the ‘illustrious‘ Saba Naqvi, monkeys cause monkeypox. She called for controlling the monkey population. Netizens were bewildered by reading her statements and questioned her knowledge and common sense.

Netizens Ridicule Naqvi

Some trolled her by saying that because Naqvi concluded that monkeys caused monkeypox, perhaps chickens caused chicken pox and cowpox by cows. One wonders what smallpox could be caused by—dwarfs? Small children?

Here are some reactions.

 

Naqvi Mis-cites WHO

Despite being corrected by netizens, Naqvi stubbornly clung to her erroneous views. She even attempted to back them up with a misinterpreted WHO reference.

Even though netizens trolled her for ignorance, Naqvi did not retract her post or accept her folly.

In another post she tried to justify her statements – with proof from WHO!! She wrote, “From WHO site. The monkeypox virus was discovered in Denmark (1958) in monkeys kept for research and the first reported human case of mpox was a nine-month-old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, 1970). Mpox can spread from person to person or from animals to people.”

What Is Monkeypox And How Is It Caused?

Monkeypox is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), but despite its name, it doesn’t originate from monkeys. The disease is not as common as other pox infections. The virus was first identified in 1958 from a monkey in Africa, leading to its misleading name. However, researchers now believe that rodents, particularly those in Central and West Africa, serve as the primary reservoir for the virus. In addition to rodents, the virus can also infect other animals, including certain non-human primates like anteaters, hedgehogs, prairie dogs, squirrels, and shrews.

Transmission: Monkeypox can spread to humans through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or skin lesions of infected animals. Human-to-human transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets, contact with infected body fluids or lesions, or contaminated materials like bedding.

Symptoms: Monkeypox’s symptoms are similar to but milder than smallpox’s. They include fever, headache, muscle aches, and a distinctive rash that starts on the face and spreads to other body parts. The rash progresses through several stages, from macules to pustules, before forming scabs and eventually falling off.

Incubation Period: The incubation period for monkeypox is usually 6 to 13 days but can range from 5 to 21 days. During this time, the virus replicates in the body before symptoms appear.

Treatment: There is no specific treatment for monkeypox. The management of the disease is primarily supportive, focusing on relieving symptoms. Antiviral drugs like Tecovirimat (TPOXX) have been used experimentally in some cases. Vaccination against smallpox is about 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.

Despite being corrected, Naqvi remains unwilling to step down from her high horse. She couldn’t acknowledge her lack of knowledge with humility. If this is the standard among ‘journalists,‘ ‘columnists,‘ and writers in the country, it raises concerns about the quality and accuracy of the ‘facts’ they churn out.

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