India on Alert, accounting the measures to be ready for mpox!

India has sounded an alarm over the global surge in mpox cases, with the Union Health Ministry issuing special instructions to airports and land border officials to remain vigilant

India has sounded an alarm over the global surge in mpox cases, with the Union Health Ministry issuing special instructions to airports and land border officials to remain vigilant. While India has not reported any mpox cases so far, neighbouring Pakistan has detected the virus in three residents who returned from the UAE. Three Delhi hospitals – Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Hospital – have been designated as nodal centres to serve as quarantine centres for patients. An alerting gather-up was held to discuss the alarming concerns over the possible outbreak. To align the precautionary strategies to deploy at the possible nodes that would need contentment.

Special surveillance has been ordered on land ports bordering Pakistan and Bangladesh, and all states have been asked to ramp up surveillance in their jurisdictions. Laboratories across India have been asked to prepare for mpox detection, with 32 labs currently equipped to test for the infection. According to the World Health Organization, India has reported 30 confirmed cases of mpox infection since 2022, with the last case reported in March this year. The current strain of the pox virus is said to be more infectious and virulent. Still, the risk of a massive outbreak in India is considered low. The Health Ministry has instructed to isolate the inbound passengers exhibiting the enlisted symptoms. The government is taking proactive measures to prepare for any potential outbreak, with a focus on surveillance, detection, and quarantine.