New Delhi: Mpox continues to be a significant threat across the globe, including India after one case was reported. Following the rising concerns related to the disease, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued an advisory on the same in view of the World Health Organization’s declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern linked to the infection.
The advisory in the letter mentioned that since the World Health Organization announced the current outbreak of Mpox (earlier known as Monkeypox) disease as a public health emergency on August 14th, public health actions are required. This is the second time when such a Mpox disease linked to PHEIC has been declared by WHO under the International Health Regulations 2005, to which India is a signatory.
Further, it noted, earlier, the Mpox outbreak started in 2022 was caused by Mpox virus clade II, while in 2024, the PHEIC was linked to the Mpox virus Clade I which is even more lethal and more contagious than Mpox Clade II. On the other hand, according to the available data, the clinical presentation of Mpox clade I in adults stays similar to clade II. However, the rate of complications may be higher in clade I than in clade II infections.
Key public health actions to be undertaken to minimise the risk in India:
All States/UTs are urged to undertake necessary activities to make communities aware of the disease. The mode of transport, the importance of timely reporting and preventive steps.
Review of public health preparedness at specific health facility levels at the State and Districts by senior officials
Checking the isolation facilities in hospitals for taking extra care of both the suspect case and the confirmed ones
All the suspected cases should be isolated immediately and strict infection prevention and control measures must be taken
The samples from the skin lesions of any patient with symptoms should be sent to the designated labs right away and the ones who are positive should be sent to ICMR-NIV for genome sequencing to find out the clade.
Amid the rising concerns related to the disease, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued an advisory on the same in view of the World Health Organization’s declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern linked to the infection. Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
