The Impressive TimesNew Delhi : Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr. PK Mishra, chaired a high-level meeting yesterday to review the country’s preparedness for Mpox and related public health measures. He emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been closely monitoring the Mpox situation.
In the meeting, Dr. Mishra instructed states to intensify surveillance and implement effective measures for the prompt detection of Mpox cases. He also directed that the network of testing laboratories be fully equipped for early diagnosis, with 32 labs currently prepared for testing. Dr. Mishra highlighted the importance of widely disseminating prevention and treatment protocols and stressed the need for an awareness campaign among healthcare providers to recognize the disease’s signs and symptoms and ensure timely notification to the surveillance system.
It was noted during the meeting that there have been no reported cases of Mpox in India so far, and the risk of a large-scale outbreak with sustained transmission is currently assessed as low. Mpox infections are generally self-limiting, lasting between 2 to 4 weeks, and patients typically recover with supportive care. Transmission of Mpox occurs through prolonged and close contact with an infected individual.
The meeting also revealed that a video conference, convened earlier by the Director General of Health Services, involved over 200 participants. State-level health authorities, including the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme units and officials at Ports of Entry, were sensitized to the situation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently re-declared Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on August 14th, citing its prevalence and spread across many parts of Africa. Since 2022, WHO reports that more than 99,000 cases and 208 deaths have been recorded globally across 116 countries due to Mpox.
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