In light of a suspected Mpox case in Delhi, the Union Health Ministry has advised all states and union territories to step up screening and contact tracing efforts. The patient recently returned from overseas and is now in isolation at a designated hospital. They are stable, as confirmed in a Sunday statement by the Health Ministry. The case is being handled according to set guidelines, and contact tracing is ongoing to find possible sources and understand its impact in India. Tests are in progress to confirm if the patient has Mpox.
India’s Mpox Response: Improved Monitoring and Testing
On Monday, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra formally urged states and union territories to boost monitoring and testing efforts. This follows the World Health Organization’s declaration of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Although no samples tested at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune have shown positive results for Mpox so far, the Ministry’s advisory outlines measures to prevent and manage potential cases in India.
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has created a system for detecting Mpox cases early. This includes lab testing guidelines, clinical management, and infection control practices. Senior health officials in every state and district are expected to frequently review public health measures at hospitals. Hospitals are instructed to have isolation wards for both suspected and confirmed cases, with properly trained staff.
Raising Awareness Without Causing Panic
The Ministry’s advisory stresses the need to spread awareness about Mpox, its transmission, prevention, and the importance of timely reporting. However, it also warns against causing unnecessary alarm. States have been asked to take action to inform communities about the disease, its spread, and prevention, while also ensuring that there is no panic among the public.
