In response to the ongoing Mpox outbreak, the central government has issued a new directive emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive measures to combat the spread of the virus. This directive includes guidelines for screening, testing, and contact tracing of suspected Mpox cases. Additionally, states have been instructed to identify and prepare hospitals with isolation facilities to handle both suspected and confirmed cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). While the risk of the disease spreading beyond Africa has been assessed as moderate, the WHO continues to monitor the situation closely. The outbreak has predominantly affected young men aged 18-44, with sexual contact being the most frequently reported mode of transmission, followed by non-sexual person-to-person contact.
Symptoms and Precautions
According to the government directive, the most common symptom of Mpox is a rash, which may be symmetrical or located in the genital area. This is often accompanied by fever. The virus, first discovered in monkeys in Denmark in 1958, was later reported in humans with the first case identified in a nine-month-old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970.
In India, no confirmed cases of Mpox have been reported to date. However, a man who recently returned from a country with confirmed cases was isolated on Sunday. His condition is currently stable, and his samples are being tested.
Globally, over 120 countries have reported Mpox cases between January 2022 and August 2024. The WHO reports more than 100,000 lab-confirmed cases and approximately 220 deaths. Pakistan has reported five cases, according to Geo News.
In light of the outbreak, the central government has directed a review of public health preparedness by senior officials, stressing the importance of immediate action to prevent further spread of the virus. States are urged to implement robust screening and isolation protocols to manage and contain Mpox effectively.
Sources By Agencies
