New Delhi: The Health Department has instructed three Delhi government hospitals to establish isolation rooms specifically for patients suspected or confirmed to have mpox.
Hospitals Designated
The hospitals designated for this measure are Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital, and Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital. LNJP will act as the primary facility, with the other two hospitals on standby.
No Current Cases in India
Despite the global outbreak of mpox, India has not reported any cases so far. The directive aims to ensure preparedness in case of any future developments.
AIIMS Issues Guidelines
In addition to these measures, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has released guidelines for managing suspected mpox-infected patients.
Government Monitoring Situation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the mpox situation. Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, recently led a high-level meeting to review the country’s preparedness and public health measures related to mpox. According to the Indian government, the risk of a major outbreak with sustained transmission remains low.
WHO’s Perspective
Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, emphasized that mpox is “not the ‘new COVID’” and reassured that the risk to the general population is low. He advised that European governments should show strong political commitment to eliminating mpox.
Transmission and Control
Dr. Kluge highlighted that mpox primarily spreads through skin-to-skin contact with lesions, including during sexual activity. He affirmed that Europe would not face COVID-like lockdowns and noted that the 2022 outbreak was controlled through direct engagement with affected communities, including men who have sex with men.
Current Situation in Europe
Europe has been experiencing around 100 new cases of mpox clade 2 monthly. Last week, Sweden reported its first case of mpox clade 1, the variant at the center of the latest outbreak from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Vaccines and Global Solidarity
(The WHO recommends smallpox vaccines)
Dr. Kluge called for increased European solidarity with Africa, particularly regarding vaccine access. The WHO recommends several vaccines originally developed for smallpox, including MVA-BN, LC16, and ACAM2000.
The producer of MVA-BN, Bavarian Nordic, is expected to manufacture 10 million doses by the end of 2025, with up to two million doses available this year. The LC16 vaccine, produced by Japan, has a significant stockpile. Japan is also negotiating with the DRC for vaccine donations.
Current DRC Statistics
The DRC has reported over 15,600 mpox cases and approximately 540 deaths this year.
