Health Minister JP Nadda Reviews Mpox Preparedness Amid Global Surge

Union Health Minister JP Nadda chaired a high-level meeting on Saturday to review India’s preparedness for monkeypox amid a global surge in cases. Despite no recent cases reported in India, the minister emphasized the importance of preventive measures. The meeting assessed that the risk of a significant outbreak with sustained transmission in India is currently low.

Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 99,176 monkeypox cases and 208 deaths across 116 countries since declaring the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in July 2022, though this designation was revoked in May 2023. India has reported 30 cases since the WHO’s declaration, with the most recent case in March 2024.

The meeting involved experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), WHO, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Centre for Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), Directorate General of Health Services (Dte.GHS), Central Government Hospitals, and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Monkeypox typically presents with self-limiting infections lasting 2-4 weeks, with patients generally recovering with supportive care. Transmission primarily occurs through prolonged close contact with an infected person, including sexual contact, and contaminated materials. The Health Ministry is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining vigilance.