On Monday, the government recommended screening and testing all suspected Mpox (monkeypox) cases, isolating confirmed patients, and conducting contact tracing to “prevent and minimize the risk of any cases or deaths due to Mpox in the country.”
States and union territories have been urged to designate hospitals to prepare isolation facilities and to be ready to handle both suspected and confirmed cases, which will require additional resources.
The government emphasized the importance of avoiding “unnecessary panic among the public.”
To support this, the Health Ministry has advised distributing guidelines on “monkeypox disease management” and implementing a comprehensive surveillance strategy for tracking suspected cases and tracing contacts, similar to the protocols used during the peak of the Covid pandemic.
The ministry also provided a list of operational laboratories for testing, clinical management protocols, infection prevention and control measures, and risk communication strategies.
Senior officials were asked to conduct a “review of public health preparedness” at state and district levels, particularly in healthcare facilities. Healthcare workers, especially those in dermatology and STD (sexually transmitted disease) clinics, should be briefed on symptoms, differential diagnoses, and the appropriate actions to take when a Mpox case is detected.
The Health Ministry highlighted the importance of making information on Mpox and its common symptoms widely available, referring to a recent update from the World Health Organization (WHO). The majority of Mpox patients are men aged 18 to 44, with the most common symptoms being rashes (either systemic or genital) and fever.
Last month, Mpox was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the WHO, which has assessed the risk of the outbreak spreading beyond Africa. A surge in cases has been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as other African countries like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Scientists have identified a new strain originating from the DRC.
No confirmed cases have been reported in India yet, but five cases have been identified in Pakistan, according to Geo News. The latest case, a 47-year-old man, tested positive after being isolated by Border Health Services staff on August 29 following his return from the Gulf region.
In India, a man recently returned from a country with confirmed Mpox cases and was isolated on Sunday, with his samples currently being tested. His condition is reported as stable.
According to the WHO, over 120 countries have reported Mpox cases between January 2022 and August 2024, with more than 100,000 lab-confirmed cases and around 220 deaths.
The WHO recommends vaccination as a preventive measure and notes that the vaccine can also be administered after exposure to an infected individual. It is most effective if given within four days of contact, but can still be administered up to 14 days after exposure if symptoms have not developed.
