Three hospitals in New Delhi—Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Medical College—have been designated as nodal centers for the isolation, management, and treatment of Mpox patients. State governments have been asked to identify similar facilities under their jurisdiction.
P K Mishra, principal secretary to the prime minister, convened a high-level meeting on Sunday to assess the country’s preparedness for Mpox. Officials reported no current Mpox cases in India. According to the current assessment, the risk of a large outbreak with sustained transmission is low.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to its widespread presence in many parts of Africa.
An earlier WHO statement reported 99,176 Mpox cases and 208 deaths from 116 countries since 2022. The Democratic Republic of Congo has seen a steady increase in Mpox cases.
“The virus strain this time is different and is more virulent and infectious. But the risk of a large outbreak with sustained transmission is low in the country as per the current assessment,” a PTI source said.The health ministry has directed officials to enhance surveillance and implement effective measures for the prompt detection of Mpox cases. The ministry emphasized the importance of preparing testing laboratories for early diagnosis of the disease. Currently, 32 laboratories in India are equipped to test for Mpox.Mishra on Sunday stressed the need for widespread dissemination of prevention and treatment protocols. He emphasized running an awareness campaign among healthcare providers regarding the signs and symptoms of Mpox and the necessity for timely notification to the surveillance system.
The number of reported Mpox cases worldwide surged last year and has already surpassed last year’s total this year. Over 15,600 cases and 537 deaths have been reported this year.
In India, since 2022, 30 Mpox cases have been reported, with the most recent case detected in March 2024.
(With PTI inputs)
