India prepares for Mpox outbreak: Health Ministry issues guidelines for airports and hospitals
Union Health Ministry has instructed airports and land port authorities at Bangladesh and Pakistan borders to remain vigilant for international passengers displaying Mpox symptoms, news agency PTI reported.
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
