Airports, borders on high alert as global mpox cases peak, labs ready

New Delhi: The Centre has alerted authorities to monitor incoming international passengers with monkeypox (mpox) symptoms.

Authorities at airports, ports and borders with Bangladesh and Paskistan are directed to remain alert in the wake of increasing mpox cases globally, NDTV reported.

Three state-run hospitals Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Hospital with key facilities have been chosen to quarantine, manage and treat mpox patients, according to the report.

It is reported that these hospitals are be designated as nodal centres and to give information to the public.

PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday in a meeting reviewed the country’s preparedness to fight the scourge.

It is reported citing officials that no case of mpox has been reported in the country at present.

It is assessed that the risk of a large outbreak with sustained transmission is low.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern.

The declaration comes in the wake of increasing cases and prevalence of the disease in many parts of Africa.

WHO previously said since 2022, as many as 99,176 cases and 208 deaths have been reported due to mpox from 116 countries.

"The virus strain this time is different and is more virulent and infectious. But the risk of a large outbreak with sustained transmission is low in the country as per the current assessment," news agency PTI reported.

The Health Ministry has directed officials to get ready testing laboratories for diagnosis of the disease and currently 32 laboratories in the country can test mpox.

At least 30 mpox cases have been reported from India since 2022 with the last case having detected in March this year.