In response to the global rise in Mpox cases, the central government has instructed airport, port, and border authorities to heighten their vigilance. Major hospitals, including Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Hospital, are preparing to handle isolation cases if necessary.Officials confirmed, We have alerted airports, ports, and borders with Bangladesh and Pakistan. The three central hospitals will be equipped with isolation facilities similar to those at Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and Lady Hardinge.Union health ministrys actionsThe Union Health Ministry recently convened meetings with experts to address concerns about the new Mpox variant, which differs from the previous Monkeypox virus. We had a meeting with states and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) last week. Points of entry are on alert. Mpox is a self-limiting virus and has no correlation with COVID-19. Nodal officers are stationed in hospitals, and testing facilities are available at 32 ICMR centers. The symptoms of Mpox are similar to chickenpox, sources reported.Risk assessment and preparednessWhile Mpox presents a high mortality risk, officials believe the chance of a widespread outbreak in India remains low. The disease typically manifests with rashes.Earlier, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, PK Mishra, led a review meeting to assess the nations preparedness for Mpox. The meeting concluded that no cases have been reported in India, and the risk of a large-scale outbreak is currently considered low. Enhanced surveillance measures are in place for prompt detection and response.WHOs stance on MpoxThe World Health Organization (WHO) has designated Mpox as a public health emergency of international concern due to its prevalence in parts of Africa. However, no travel advisories have been issued at this time.
