The Government on Monday said that the 26-year-old male who recently travelled from the country experiencing Mpox transmission has tested positive for the viral disease.
However, in a bid to allay fears, the Union Health Ministry in a statement issued here stated that the virus is of the West African clade 2, not related to the current clade 1 public health emergency.
The patient is currently isolated at a designated tertiary care isolation facility at Delhi Government’s LNJP Hospital. “The patient remains clinically stable and is without any systemic illness or comorbidities,” the Ministry said.
It added that it is an isolated case, similar to the earlier 30 cases reported in India from July 2022 onwards. It is not a part of the current public health emergency reported by WHO which is regarding clade 1 of Mpox, it maintained.
The case aligns with earlier risk assessments and continues to be managed according to established protocols, it said, adding that public health measures, including contact tracing and monitoring, are actively in place to ensure the situation is contained.
“There is no indication of any widespread risk to the public at this time,” the Health Ministry stated even as it urged states and Union territories to stay vigilant and avoid unnecessary panic.
Authorities are advised to enhance surveillance, including screening, testing, and contact tracing, to manage the situation effectively and prevent further spread, said Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra in a letter to States and Union Territories(UTs).
The Centre has also advised them to ramp up surveillance including screening, testing and tracing contact of all suspect Mpox cases and identify isolation facilities in hospitals for both suspect and confirmed patients. Presently, three Centre-led hospitals in the national capitals have been designated for treatment of the Mpox cases if needed.
Chandra asked the States and UTs to review public health preparedness, particularly at the health facility level, identify isolation facilities in hospitals, and ensure the availability of required logistics and trained human resources at such facilities.
The Secretary also called for the orientation of all key stakeholders with a focus on surveillance units under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) at state and district levels to re-orient them on definitions of suspect, probable, confirmed cases, contact tracing and other surveillance activities.
In the letter, Chandra asked all states to make people aware of the Mpox disease, its mode of spread, the need for timely reporting and taking preventive measures, besides reviewing the public health preparedness and isolation facilities for both suspect and confirmed cases.
In the letter, Chandra said the World Health Organization (WHO) on August 14 declared the current outbreak of Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Health units at points of entry (airports) have been instructed to strengthen health screening of incoming travellers to detect any suspected case, the Union Health Secretary said, adding the laboratory network under Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has also been strengthened.
Dr. Jugal Kishore, Director Professor and Head of Community Medicine at Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, described Mpox symptoms as resembling those of chickenpox or smallpox, including sores, blisters, rashes, or pimples on the face or body, sometimes with yellow pus. Additional symptoms may include itching, vomiting, fever, headache, muscle stiffness, and lethargy.
He said there was no need to panic but precautionary measures need to be taken such as avoiding crowded places, maintaining distance, washing hands frequently, and avoiding contact with immunocompromised individuals. He stressed the importance of consulting a doctor if Mpox symptoms appear, given the potential confusion with chickenpox.
