August 17, 2024: After the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Monekypox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), a detailed review of the Monkeypox situation and preparedness was taken by the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nada in a meeting with the senior officials of the Ministry on Saturday.

There are no reported cases of Mokeypox in India as of date. In the meeting chaired by the Union Health Minister, it was decided that as a matter of abundant caution, certain measures (such as sensitizing the health units at all the airports, seaports, and ground crossings; readying the testing Laboratories; gearing up health facilities for detecting, isolating and managing any case, etc.) are put in place.

In the meeting, it was noted that Monkeypox infections are usually self-limiting lasting between 2-4 weeks and patients generally recover with supportive management. The transmission requires prolonged close contact with an infected case and is generally through the sexual route, direct contact with body/lesion fluid, or contaminated clothing/linen of an infected person.

WHO had earlier declared Monkeypox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in July 2022 and subsequently revoked the same in May 2023.

Globally since 2022, WHO has reported 99,176 cases and 208 deaths due to Monkeypox from 116 countries. Since the 2022 declaration by WHO, a total of 30 cases were detected in India with the last case in March 2024.