Mpox
New Delhi, Aug 18: Principal Secretary P.K. Mishra announced on Sunday that India has not reported any cases of Mpox. Mishra chaired a high-level meeting to review the country’s preparedness and public health measures for the disease. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is actively monitoring the situation.
The Health Ministry held the meeting following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The WHO made this declaration after Mpox spread to 13 countries in Africa.
Mishra confirmed that India currently has no Mpox cases. Officials assessed that the risk of a significant outbreak with sustained transmission remains low. Mpox infections typically resolve within 2-4 weeks with supportive care. The disease spreads through prolonged, close contact with an infected person, including sexual contact, direct contact with body fluids, or contaminated clothing.
Globally, the WHO reported 99,176 cases and 208 deaths from Mpox since 2022. This year alone, reports indicate over 15,600 cases and 537 deaths. India recorded 30 cases since the 2022 PHEIC declaration, with the latest case detected in March 2024.
Mishra directed authorities to enhance surveillance and implement effective measures for prompt detection of Mpox cases. He instructed that the network of 32 labs equipped for Mpox testing be mobilized for early diagnosis. He also emphasized the need for widespread dissemination of prevention and treatment protocols and an awareness campaign for healthcare providers on the disease’s signs and symptoms.
The meeting included V.K. Paul from NITI Aayog, Apurva Chandra, Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, and Rajiv Bahl, Secretary of Health Research.
Apurva Chandra reported that the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) convened a meeting of experts to assess risks for India. Health teams at international airports and ports of entry have been sensitized. The Director General Health Services (DGHS) conducted a video conference with over 200 state-level health authorities on Sunday morning.
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