In response to a suspected Mpox case in Delhi, the Union Health Ministry has issued an advisory to states and union territories. The patient, who recently returned from abroad, is currently in isolation at a designated hospital and is in stable condition, according to the Health Ministry. Testing is underway to confirm if the patient is infected with Mpox, and contact tracing is in progress to identify potential sources and assess the impact.
Boosting Surveillance and Testing
On Monday, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra issued an advisory to all states and union territories, urging them to enhance surveillance and testing. This follows the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Although no positive Mpox cases have been reported from samples tested at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, the Health Ministry has implemented strategies to prevent and manage potential cases in India.
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has developed a surveillance strategy for early detection of Mpox, including guidelines for laboratory testing, clinical management, and infection control. States and districts have been advised to review public health preparedness, and hospitals are required to maintain isolation wards for both suspected and confirmed cases.
Public Awareness Without Panic
The Ministry has stressed the importance of public awareness while avoiding panic. "States are encouraged to make communities aware of the disease, its transmission, and the need for timely reporting, but undue panic should be avoided," the advisory noted. Healthcare workers are central to the Ministry’s strategy, with special emphasis on educating professionals in skin and sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics about Mpox symptoms and appropriate responses.
Screening for suspected cases will be carried out at both community and hospital levels, with the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) involved in the surveillance efforts.
Health Ministry Assures There’s No Need for Concern
Despite the suspected case in Delhi, the Health Ministry has assured the public that there is no cause for undue concern. "The situation aligns with the earlier risk assessment conducted by the NCDC, and India is fully prepared to handle isolated travel-related cases," said the Ministry.
Global Mpox Outlook and India’s Vigilance
India’s heightened readiness comes after WHO declared Mpox a PHEIC. The disease, which resurfaced globally in 2022 after being primarily confined to parts of Africa, has now been reported in 121 countries, with over 102,000 confirmed cases. A new strain, clade 1b, has added to global health concerns.
Mpox spreads through close contact with an infected person, causing symptoms such as fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Although most cases are mild, the disease has led to 223 deaths worldwide.
India continues to monitor case clusters, emphasizing early detection and containment. Preparedness measures, including isolation facilities, trained healthcare workers, and strict contact tracing, remain central to the strategy aimed at safeguarding public health.
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