Narendra Modi continues to monitor Mpox situation amid WHO declaring it as global health emergency

As advised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, chaired a high-level meeting to review the status of preparedness for Mpox in the country and related public health measures.

"The high-level meeting was briefed that as of now, there is no reported case of Mpox in the country. As per the present assessment, the risk of a large outbreak with sustained transmission is low," read the statement issued by the Indian government.

Principal Secretary to Prime Minister was informed that Mpox infections are generally self-limiting lasting between 2-4 weeks; Mpox patients usually recover with supportive medical care and management.

Mpox transmission happens through prolonged and close contact with an infected patient.

It happens largely through the sexual route, direct contact with body/lesion fluid of the patient, or through the contaminated clothing/linen of an infected person.

Viral disease, global concern

Mpox – formerly monkeypox - is a viral disease that can be transmitted through physical contact with an infected person, animal or contaminated objects. 

It was first detected in humans in 1970, in the DRC, and is considered endemic to countries in Central and West Africa.

Outbreaks are caused by different mpox viruses called clades, and the clade 1 strain has been circulating in the DRC for years.

The emergence of a new offshoot – clade 1b - and its rapid spread, including to nearby countries, is among the main reasons why WHO declared on Wednesday that mpox constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

So far this year, more than 2,100 laboratory confirmed cases of the disease, and 13 deaths, have been reported in the DRC and 11 other countries: Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.

This compares to 1,145 confirmed cases, and seven deaths, in 11 countries for all of 2023.