India Alerts Authorities to Monitor Monkeypox Symptoms at Borders and Airports

New Delhi: The Indian government has alerted authorities at airports, ports, and borders with Bangladesh and Pakistan to watch for international passengers displaying symptoms of monkeypox (mpox), which is spreading globally.

Three state-run hospitals in Delhi—Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Hospital—have been designated as key facilities for quarantining and treating mpox patients. While no cases have been reported in India so far, the Health Ministry has directed states to prepare hospitals for potential mpox cases.

A meeting chaired by PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Modi, reviewed the country’s readiness amid enhanced surveillance. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared mpox a public health emergency due to its spread in Africa, with 99,176 cases and 208 deaths reported worldwide since 2022. In India, at least 30 mpox cases have been recorded, with the last case detected in March 2024.