Mpox Cases In India-The Health Ministry Has Issued An Advisory

The Union government, on Monday, issued a fresh advisory on the tracking and monitoring of mpox cases that has been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organisation, to the states and UTs.

The Union Health Ministry, in an advisory, mentioned that no case of mpox has been reported in the country during the present outbreak. However, it has advised state governments to remain vigilant and follow various guidelines with regard to surveillance strategies and facilities for isolation needed for tracking and dealing with suspect and confirmed cases of the disease.
The ministry said national IDSP is maintaining alertness for mpox clustering in the country. Points of entry have enhanced health screening of incoming travellers and ICMR laboratory network has been strengthened to test samples from suspect cases, the ministry said.

States are advised to sensitize healthcare workers, especially at skin and STD clinics, about the common signs and symptoms of mpox and actions that need to be taken post-diagnosis, the advisory said.
Screening and testing of all suspect cases are to be done in the community-from hospital-based surveillance to intervention sites identified by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO).

“While all states are requested to undertake appropriate activities to make communities aware about the disease, its mode of spread, need for timely reporting and preventive measures, it is essential that any undue panic amongst the masses is prevented,” the advisory said.

In August, the WHO declared mpox-under the name monkeypox then-a public health emergency of international concern as mpox began to spread to several countries and a new strain-termed clade 1b-was discovered.