The Indian government announced on Saturday that it is closely monitoring the global Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) situation, implementing precautionary measures to prevent the disease's spread within the country.
The Ministry of Health confirmed that no new Mpox cases have been reported in India as of now.
Health Minister JP Nadda chaired a meeting with senior ministry officials to assess the current scenario and strategize preventive actions. As a precautionary measure, the government has decided to enhance preparedness across various points of entry into the country.
Key measures include sensitizing health units at airports, seaports, and land crossings, equipping testing laboratories, and readying health facilities to detect, isolate, and manage any potential cases.
This meeting was convened following the World Health Organization's (WHO) declaration of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
During the meeting, it was noted that Mpox infections are typically self-limiting, with symptoms lasting between 2-4 weeks, and most patients recovering with supportive care. Transmission generally requires prolonged close contact with an infected individual and occurs through sexual contact, direct contact with bodily fluids or lesions, or contaminated clothing and linens.
Globally, since 2022, WHO has reported 99,176 cases and 208 deaths related to Mpox across 116 countries. In India, a total of 30 cases were detected since the 2022 WHO declaration, with the last case reported in March 2024.
The Centre also held a meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group, led by the Director General of Health Services, and attended by experts from relevant fields, to review the situation. While the possibility of detecting a few imported cases in the coming weeks cannot be entirely ruled out, the risk of a large-scale outbreak with sustained transmission in India is currently assessed to be low.
Following recent reports of Mpox cases in Sweden and Pakistan, infectious disease experts have urged Indian health authorities to initiate screening for Mpox at major airports to curb the potential spread of the disease.