The Health Ministry issued a nationwide advisory on Monday regarding Mpox, a public health emergency of global concern declared by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The advisory provides precautionary measures, symptoms, and causes related to the virus.
Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra stated that, to date, India has not reported any cases of Mpox.
However, he emphasised the importance of staying informed about the potential dangers and spread of the virus.
Chandra instructed states to widely disseminate the ministry's "guidelines for the management of monkeypox disease" and to act on the alert issued by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The advisory outlines that young males, particularly those aged 30 to 35, are at a higher risk.
It also notes that the common mode of transmission is sexual contact. Symptoms typically include rashes in the genital area followed by fever.
Prior to this advisory, a suspected case of Mpox was identified in a man who had recently returned to India from abroad.
The patient is currently undergoing treatment and is stable, though he remains in a designated hospital ward.
The ministry’s release indicated that the case is being managed according to established standard operating procedures (SOPs), and contact tracing is underway to identify potential sources.
The advisory further states that India is fully prepared to handle isolated cases of Mpox. Originating in Africa, Mpox has been a health issue in several countries on the continent.
Since January 2022, the WHO has received reports of Mpox cases from 121 member states across all six regions.
According to WHO data, from September 2023 to July 2024, there have been 102,997 confirmed cases and 186 probable cases, including 223 deaths.
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