A young man with symptoms of empox was identified in India. After testing the sample, the country’s Union Ministry of Health confirmed that the young man was infected with Mepox. Meanwhile, the Center has issued guidelines warning the states as public fear is increasing.
India’s Union Health Ministry said on Monday (September 9) that an ‘isolated case’ of the empox virus has been identified in the country and has been verified as a ‘travel-related’ infection. However, they say the outbreak is not part of a ‘global public health emergency’ declared by the World Health Organization.
A suspected case of empox (monkeypox) has been confirmed as a travel-related infection, the health ministry said in a statement. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of West African clade 2 Eppox virus in the patient.
According to the Ministry of Health of India, the country where the young man came from, there has been an infection of empox. The affected person has been isolated in a hospital. His physical condition is now stable.
Meanwhile, apprehension about MPOX is being created in the minds of the common people. The central government has issued guidelines warning the states in this situation. The guidelines call for the identification and surveillance of empox infections.
In the guidelines, the Union Ministry of Health said that the situation should be monitored. It has also been asked to arrange for isolation if anyone is infected or suspected to be infected. For that, the guidelines have also said to keep special arrangements in the hospital.
The guidelines also said that the country’s Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) is keeping an eye on whether anyone is getting infected with Mepox in India. Surveillance has been increased at the airport.
Besides, the laboratory under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has been asked to have a quick sample testing system. The Union Health Ministry has asked to pay special attention to the health workers.
Source: Hindustan Times, Anandabazar
