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The Union Health Ministry of India has issued guidelines to states, emphasizing the importance of screening and testing suspected cases of mpox. This action comes in response to one suspected case reported in Delhi. The ministry has also alerted state AIDS control societies, as a significant portion of global mpox cases occur in individuals with HIV.
The guidelines outline four key steps for states to take: 1) Orient state and district-level surveillance teams on mpox definitions and contact tracing; 2) Train healthcare workers in clinics treating skin and sexually transmitted infections, as well as those under the HIV control program, on common symptoms, clinical management, and treatment protocols; 3) Conduct screening and testing of suspected cases within hospitals and at designated sites under the HIV control program to reach at-risk populations like men who have sex with men and sex workers; and 4) Communicate clearly and intensively about the risk of mpox to healthcare workers, specific areas within hospitals, and the general public.
While the first suspected case in India was detected after the WHO declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the risk of sustained transmission within India remains low. However, the ministry acknowledges the potential for imported cases due to travel from affected countries. The current outbreak is characterized by the spread of a deadlier clade of mpox, Clade Ib, through sexual contact, which is a non-conventional mode of transmission.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral infection caused by the mpox virus (MPXV). Common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes, and pox-like rashes that persist for two to three weeks. Although usually self-limiting, mpox can be fatal, particularly in children and individuals with weakened immune systems. The ministry underscores the importance of preventing undue panic among the public while raising awareness about the disease, its mode of spread, and preventive measures.
The guidelines highlight that the majority of mpox cases globally affect young men between 18 and 44 years of age. Transmission primarily occurs through sexual contact, followed by person-to-person non-sexual contact. The most frequently reported symptom is a rash on the body or genital region, accompanied by fever. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately half of mpox cases globally occur in individuals with HIV.