India remains free of reported Monkeypox cases, according to the Union health ministry. However, the ministry is implementing precautionary measures to prevent and control the spread of the disease following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recent declaration of a public health emergency of international concern.
A review meeting was held earlier this week to assess the risk of a Monkeypox outbreak in India. While the possibility of imported cases being detected in the coming weeks cannot be entirely ruled out, the risk of a large outbreak with sustained transmission is currently considered low.
Since the WHO first declared the Monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency in 2022, India recorded 30 cases, with the last reported case occurring in March of this year. The WHO revoked its declaration in May 2023.
However, following the WHO’s renewed declaration on August 14, 2023, the Union health minister, JP Nadda, convened a meeting with senior ministry officials to review the situation and preparedness.
As a precautionary measure, several steps have been implemented, including:
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Sensitizing health units at airports, seaports, and ground crossings.
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Preparing 32 testing laboratories.
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Equipping health facilities to detect, isolate, and manage any potential cases.
The meeting also highlighted that Monkeypox infections are typically self-limiting, lasting between two to four weeks. Most patients recover with supportive management. Transmission requires prolonged close contact with an infected individual and usually occurs through sexual contact, direct contact with bodily fluids or lesions, or contaminated clothing/linen of an infected person.
The health ministry is closely monitoring the situation and remains committed to preventing the spread of Monkeypox in India.
