To manage and treat potential cases, three state-run hospitals in Delhi — Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Hospital — have been designated as key facilities for quarantine and care.
In response to the growing global concern over MPox in India (formerly known as monkeypox), the government has instructed airport, port, and border authorities to remain vigilant for international passengers exhibiting symptoms of the disease. The move comes as MPox continues to spread worldwide.
To manage and treat potential cases, three state-run hospitals in Delhi — Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Hospital — have been designated as key facilities for quarantine and care. Additionally, the Centre has urged all states to prepare local hospitals as nodal centres for handling mpox cases and to inform the public about these facilities.
PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, led a review meeting on Sunday to assess the nation’s preparedness. An earlier review meeting was held on Saturday. Despite heightened surveillance and preventive measures, officials reported no current cases of MPox in India. They assessed that the risk of a large-scale outbreak remains low at this time.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern due to its widespread impact across many parts of Africa. Recent reports indicate that a new, more virulent strain of the virus is contributing to the global spread. However, Indian officials remain cautiously optimistic about the country’s ability to contain the virus, according to a news agency PTI report.
In response to the threat, the Health Ministry has directed officials to ensure that the network of 32 testing laboratories across India is prepared for the early detection of mpox. The WHO has documented 99,176 cases and 208 deaths from mpox across 116 countries since 2022. The Democratic Republic of Congo has seen a steady rise in cases, with more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths reported globally this year alone.
India has reported at least 30 cases of MPox since 2022, with the most recent case detected in March 2024.
