New Delhi: India has made significant strides in improving its preparedness for Mpox outbreaks by adopting a collaborative multisectoral approach and enhancing public health responses to effectively tackle current and future challenges.
On December 4, 2024, the Emergency Medical Relief (EMR) Division of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), held a workshop on Mpox, chaired by Director General of Health Services Prof. Atul Goel and WHO Representative to India Dr. Roderico H. Ofrin.
The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including officials from the EMR Division, National Centre for Disease Control, National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Virology, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, participants from central government hospitals, professional bodies like the Indian Medical Association and the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine, along with other key organizations.
The workshop aimed to enhance India’s preparedness and response to Mpox by promoting collaborative strategies and sharing knowledge among various stakeholders. Sessions focused on critical areas such as surveillance collaboration, diagnostic advancements, genomic and wastewater surveillance, clinical management, and risk communication. A special focus was placed on integrating Mpox response efforts into existing healthcare networks such as NACO and utilizing community-based organizations to reach high-risk groups.
Although Mpox cases in India remain limited, the potential for spread, particularly among high-risk groups, requires careful monitoring and attention.
Kerala’s proactive measures in managing Mpox were highlighted as a model for effective containment and targeted interventions. The workshop stressed the importance of continued collaboration among government agencies, non-governmental organizations, professional bodies, international organizations, and local Panchayati Raj institutions to ensure a comprehensive and robust public health response.
Mpox, which first emerged globally in May 2022, is still ongoing. Following an increase in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its spread to neighboring countries, Mpox was declared a public health emergency of international concern on August 14, 2024.
The disease spreads through close person-to-person contact. Treatment primarily focuses on managing symptoms and preventing complications.
WHO remains committed to strengthening the capacities of Member States to address the evolving Mpox challenge by equipping stakeholders with the latest evidence and practical tools to improve surveillance, case investigations, and public health management.
