New Delhi: Following the World Health Organization's (WHO) declaration of Monkeypox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), Union Health & Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda convened a meeting with senior officials on Saturday to review the situation and preparedness measures.
Currently, there are no reported cases of Monkeypox in India. During the meeting, chaired by Nadda, it was decided to implement precautionary measures to ensure readiness. These measures include sensitizing health units at all airports, seaports, and ground crossings, preparing 32 testing laboratories, and enhancing health facilities for detecting, isolating, and managing any potential cases. The meeting highlighted that Monkeypox infections are generally self-limiting, lasting between 2 to 4 weeks, and typically resolve with supportive care. The disease is transmitted through prolonged close contact with an infected individual, primarily via sexual contact, direct contact with bodily fluids or lesions, or contaminated clothing and linen.
The WHO had initially declared Monkeypox a PHEIC in July 2022 but lifted the designation in May 2023. Since the 2022 declaration, the WHO has reported 99,176 cases and 208 deaths from Monkeypox across 116 countries. In India, a total of 30 cases were detected since the declaration, with the most recent case reported in March 2024. A Joint Monitoring Group Meeting, chaired by the Director General of Health Services and involving experts from various institutions such as the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), WHO, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Centre for Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), Directorate General of Health Services (Dte.GHS), and Central Government Hospitals, was held on August 16 to assess the current situation.
While the possibility of detecting a few imported cases in the coming weeks cannot be ruled out, the risk of a large outbreak with sustained transmission in India is currently assessed as low. The Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating responses as needed.
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