India Steps Up Surveillance Amid Global Mpox Emergency: No Current Cases in The Country

In response to the World Health Organization's (WHO) recent declaration of Mpox (monkeypox) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 14 August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to be closely monitoring the situation.

Dr P K Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, chaired a high-level meeting to assess India's preparedness for a potential outbreak, as per a release from the Prime Minister's Office.

During the meeting, officials reported that India has not detected any new Mpox cases since March 2024. Since a similar declaration by WHO in 2022, 30 cases have been reported in India.

Although WHO has reported a concerning rise in cases globally, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the risk of a large outbreak in India is currently considered low.

Mpox is an illness caused by the monkeypox virus. It typically lasts between two and four weeks, and is transmitted through close and prolonged contact with an infected person.

The virus primarily spreads through sexual contact, direct contact with bodily fluids or lesion material, or contaminated clothing and linens.

It can also be transmitted from infected animals to people who have contact with them.

Common symptoms of Mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions, accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.

Mpox is confirmed in the laboratory by testing skin lesion material by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction).

This past week, India took some precautionary steps. The National Centre for Disease Control convened a meeting of experts on 12 August to assess the risk for India.

Health teams at international airports have been sensitised to the potential threat.

The Director General of Health Services held a video conference with over 200 participants to brief state-level health authorities and units of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme.

Dr Mishra directed that surveillance be intensified and that the testing laboratory network, currently consisting of 32 labs, be prepared for early diagnosis. He also emphasised the need for widespread dissemination of prevention and treatment protocols, along with an awareness campaign targeting healthcare providers to ensure prompt notification of any cases.