NEW DELHI: The union health ministry has instructed all airports and land ports on the borders with Bangladesh and Pakistan to remain vigilant for international passengers showing symptoms of Mpox, according to a PTI report citing official sources.
Designated hospitals for Mpox
The ministry has designated three Centre-run hospitals in Delhi- Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Medical College – as key centers for the isolation, management, and treatment of Mpox patients.State governments have also been instructed to identify and designate similar hospitals within their regions.
The health ministry has also directed officials to strengthen surveillance efforts and implement effective measures for the rapid detection of Mpox cases. The network of testing laboratories has been advised to be prepared for early diagnosis, with 32 laboratories across the country currently equipped to test for Mpox.
High-level meeting on national preparedness
P K Mishra, the principal secretary to the prime minister, led a high-level meeting on Sunday to evaluate the country’s preparedness for Mpox, emphasising the need for heightened surveillance to ensure prompt detection. While there are currently no reported cases of Mpox in India, officials indicated that the risk of a widespread outbreak with sustained transmission remains low.
Mishra also emphasised the critical importance of widely disseminating prevention and treatment protocols. He highlighted the necessity of launching an awareness campaign to educate healthcare providers on recognizing the signs and symptoms of Mpox and ensuring timely reporting to the surveillance system.
Mpox, a global health emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to its prevalence and spread across multiple African countries. An official source said that the current strain of the virus is more virulent and infectious, but the likelihood of a major outbreak in India is still considered low.
According to WHO, since 2022, there have been 99,176 cases and 208 deaths due to Mpox reported from 116 countries globally. In 2023, the number of reported cases worldwide significantly increased, and this year, more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths have already been recorded. Since 2022, India has reported 30 cases of Mpox, with the last case detected in March 2024.
Designated hospitals for Mpox
The ministry has designated three Centre-run hospitals in Delhi- Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Medical College – as key centers for the isolation, management, and treatment of Mpox patients.State governments have also been instructed to identify and designate similar hospitals within their regions.
The health ministry has also directed officials to strengthen surveillance efforts and implement effective measures for the rapid detection of Mpox cases. The network of testing laboratories has been advised to be prepared for early diagnosis, with 32 laboratories across the country currently equipped to test for Mpox.
High-level meeting on national preparedness
P K Mishra, the principal secretary to the prime minister, led a high-level meeting on Sunday to evaluate the country’s preparedness for Mpox, emphasising the need for heightened surveillance to ensure prompt detection. While there are currently no reported cases of Mpox in India, officials indicated that the risk of a widespread outbreak with sustained transmission remains low.
Mishra also emphasised the critical importance of widely disseminating prevention and treatment protocols. He highlighted the necessity of launching an awareness campaign to educate healthcare providers on recognizing the signs and symptoms of Mpox and ensuring timely reporting to the surveillance system.
Mpox, a global health emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to its prevalence and spread across multiple African countries. An official source said that the current strain of the virus is more virulent and infectious, but the likelihood of a major outbreak in India is still considered low.
According to WHO, since 2022, there have been 99,176 cases and 208 deaths due to Mpox reported from 116 countries globally. In 2023, the number of reported cases worldwide significantly increased, and this year, more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths have already been recorded. Since 2022, India has reported 30 cases of Mpox, with the last case detected in March 2024.
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