'No Positive Mpox Case In India': Union Health Secretary Directs States And UTs To Set Up Isolation Facilities

The Centre on Monday (9 September) urged states and union territories to screen and test all suspected mpox cases within communities and to designate isolation facilities in hospitals for both suspected and confirmed patients.

In a letter to the states and union territories, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra advised against causing unnecessary panic among the public.

"No new mpox cases have been reported in India during the current outbreak, and none of the suspected samples have tested positive," Chandra stated, while stressing the importance of remaining vigilant.

He highlighted that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare continues to closely monitor the situation and called on states and UTs to review public health preparedness, especially at healthcare facilities.

This includes identifying isolation areas, ensuring the availability of necessary logistics, and having trained staff at these facilities.

Additionally, he emphasised the need to re-orient surveillance units under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) at both state and district levels on the definitions of suspect, probable, and confirmed cases, as well as contact tracing and other key surveillance measures.