Delhi Hospitals Designated for Mpox Isolation

The Union health Ministry has instructed all airports and land border authorities with bangladesh and pakistan to be vigilant for international travelers showing Mpox symptoms, according to official sources on Sunday.

The ministry has appointed three central government hospitals in Delhi—Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Medical College—as key facilities for the isolation, management, and treatment of Mpox cases. States have been asked to designate similar hospitals within their regions.P.K. Mishra, the principal secretary to the prime minister, led a high-level meeting on sunday to assess the country’s readiness for Mpox amidst increased surveillance for early detection.

Currently, there are no reported cases of Mpox in the country. Officials indicated that the likelihood of a significant outbreak with prolonged transmission remains low based on current evaluations.

The World health Organization (WHO) has classified Mpox as a Public health Emergency of international Concern (PHEIC) due to its spread across various parts of Africa.“The virus strain this time is different, with increased virulence and transmissibility. However, the risk of a major outbreak with ongoing transmission in the country is considered low based on current assessments,” an official source stated. The health ministry has instructed officials to boost surveillance and implement measures for the swift detection of Mpox. It has emphasized that the network of testing laboratories should be prepared for the early diagnosis of the disease.

Currently, 32 laboratories in india are equipped to test for Mpox.

Mishra emphasized the need for widespread dissemination of prevention and treatment protocols, highlighting the importance of raising awareness among healthcare providers about the disease's signs and symptoms and the need for timely reporting to the surveillance system.

According to a previous WHO report, there have been 99,176 Mpox cases and 208 deaths across 116 countries since 2022. The global number of cases surged significantly last year, and this year’s total has already surpassed last year’s, with over 15,600 cases and 537 deaths reported.

india has reported thirty Mpox cases since 2022, with the most recent case detected in march 2024.