Total 33 Monkeypox Confirmed Cases Reported In India: Health Ministry
India has reported a total of 33 confirmed Monkeypox (Mpox) cases since 2022, with 17 cases detected in Kerala and 16 in Delhi. Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, shared this information while addressing questions in the Lok Sabha. He confirmed that there are no active cases of Mpox in the country at present.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has implemented several measures to mitigate the risk of Mpox transmission and strengthen the public health response. Comprehensive guidelines on the management of Mpox have been issued, covering aspects such as case definitions, surveillance, clinical management, infection prevention, and public awareness. These guidelines have been widely disseminated to all States and Union Territories.
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Efforts to enhance disease surveillance include directives to State and District Surveillance Officers under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) to intensify monitoring activities. The National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune has been designated as the referral laboratory for Mpox testing, complemented by 17 ICMR-VRDL network laboratories across the country. These facilities have been equipped to handle diagnostic testing, with detailed instructions provided for sample handling and transportation.
To prevent the importation of Mpox cases, airport and port health officers have been directed to conduct rigorous health screenings of international arrivals. Public awareness campaigns have also been a focus, with information materials developed in Hindi and English to educate communities, especially in rural and remote areas, about the symptoms of Mpox, the need for timely reporting, and prevention methods.
Also Read: India Reports First MPOX Clade 1 Case – What Does It Mean
A National Task Force has been established to oversee diagnostics and vaccine development for Mpox. Additionally, central teams were deployed to districts where cases were reported, supporting containment and control efforts. The Union Health Ministry has maintained regular coordination with State and Union Territory governments to ensure effective public health interventions and minimise the risk of further outbreaks.
The minister was responding to questions asked by Lok Sabha member Baijayant Panda.
