Mpox in India: Centre issues advisory following first suspected case | India News
Chandra in the advisory asked the state/UTs to disseminate and take action on the updated CD-Alert on Mpox issued by NCDC which details surveillance strategy (including epidemiological case definitions, contact tracing etc.), list of laboratories operationalized to undertake testing, clinical management protocol, infection prevention and control practices as well as risk communication strategy.
He also directed the states to review public health preparedness particularly at health facility level at the State and Districts by senior officials and identification of isolation facilities in hospitals for taking care of both suspect and confirmed cases, availability of required logistics and trained human resources in such facilities and augmentation plan. He also asked for orientation of all key stakeholders.
Additionally, he in the advisory also said that while all States are requested to undertake appropriate activities to make communities aware about the disease, it is crucial that any undue panic amongst the masses is prevented.
According to the advisory, Mpox primarily affects young males with a median age of 34 years, with the sexual mode of transmission being the most common, followed by person-to-person non-sexual contact. Approximately half of the cases with available information on their HIV status are reported to be in persons living with HIV. Common symptoms include rashes (including systemic or genital rash) and fever.
Chandra further said that the Union ministry of health & family welfare shall continue to monitor the situation closely and will extend all requisite support to states and UTs.
Meanwhile, a suspected case of Mpox was reported in Delhi involving a man who had recently returned to India from abroad. The patient, currently stable, has been placed under isolation in a designated hospital, and samples are being tested to confirm the presence of Mpox.
The case is being managed in line with established protocols, and contact tracing is ongoing to identify potential sources and assess the impact within the country.
Since January 1, 2022, Mpox cases have been reported to the WHO from 121 member states across all six WHO regions. The WHO Mpox report dated September 3, 2024, provides global data up to July 31, 2024. A total of 102,997 laboratory-confirmed cases and 186 probable cases, including 223 deaths, have been reported to the WHO.
In July 2024, 1,425 cases and six deaths were reported globally. More than half of these cases were from the African region (55%), followed by the American region (24%) and the European region (11%). The South-East Asia Region (SEAR) reported 1 per cent of the total cases.
