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Viral infections cause fever, headache, rash, pus lesions, and flu-like symptoms that are usually mild but can lead to death in some cases. (Getty)
The ministry has identified three centre-run hospitals – Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital and Lady Hardinge Hospital – as nodal centers for isolation, management and treatment of any Mpox patient in the national capital
The Union health ministry has asked authorities at all airports and land crossings bordering Bangladesh and Pakistan to remain vigilant against international travelers reporting acne symptoms, official sources said on Sunday.
The ministry has identified three centre-run hospitals – Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital and Lady Hardinge Hospital – as nodal centers for isolation, management and treatment of any Mpox patient in the national capital .
All state governments have been asked to identify such designated hospitals within their jurisdiction, sources said.
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Mishra on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting to review the country's preparedness for Mpox while intensifying monitoring for timely detection.
No cases of Mpox have been reported in the country so far, officials said. They said based on current assessments, the risk of a large-scale outbreak and sustained spread is low.
In view of the prevalence and spread of Mpox in many parts of Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
“This time the virus strain is different, more virulent and contagious. But according to the current assessment, the risk of a large-scale epidemic and continued spread in the country is low.
The Ministry of Health has instructed officials to step up surveillance and take effective measures to detect acne cases in a timely manner. It emphasized that a network of testing laboratories should be prepared for early diagnosis of the disease.
Currently, 32 laboratories across the country are equipped with Mpox testing equipment.
Mishra on Sunday said prevention and treatment options for the disease should be disseminated on a large scale, stressing the importance of awareness campaigns among healthcare providers about the signs and symptoms of the disease and the need for timely notification of the surveillance system.
The WHO issued an earlier statement saying that since 2022, 99,176 Mpox cases and 208 deaths have been reported in 116 countries around the world.
Mpox cases have been steadily increasing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Last year saw a significant increase in the number of reported cases around the world. The number of cases reported so far this year has exceeded last year's total, with more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths.
Since 2022, 30 cases of Mpox have been reported in India. The last case of Mpox was discovered in March 2024.
(This report has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from United News Agency-PTI)
