New Delhi: Responding to a series of questions raised around the rising cases of monkeypox in the country, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare recently apprised the parliament about the steps taken by the government to combat this disease.
As on 1st August 2022, seven confirmed cases (including one death) of Monkeypox disease, four cases (including one death) from Kerala and three cases from Delhi have been reported by the States and UTs in the country. On 14th July 2022, the first case of Monkeypox disease in India was reported from Kerala by an international traveller.
The World Health Organization on 17th June 2022, observed that confirmation of one case of monkeypox in a country is considered an outbreak.
Also Read: These 3 Private Hospitals in Delhi will now treat Monkeypox
As reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 27th July 2022, around 18,000 confirmed cases and five deaths from 78 countries have been reported globally. Considering the steady increase in cases from increasing number of countries, WHO declared the ongoing Monkeypox disease outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 23rd July 2022.
Responding to a series of questions raised on the issue of Monkeypox, the Health minister informed the Rajya Sabha, that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has taken a number of steps to minimize the risk of disease importation as well as to strengthen requisite public health and clinical interventions for the management of Monkeypox disease much before the declaration of PHEIC by the World Health Organization. Some of the key measures are as detailed below:
 All Airport/Port Health Officers have been instructed to remain vigilant and undertake rigorous health screening of incoming international passengers.
 NIV Pune (BSL-4 laboratory) under ICMR has been designated as a referral laboratory for testing suspected cases. In addition, 15 other ICMR-VRDL network laboratories have been operationalized to undertake diagnostic testing for Monkeypox disease. Instructions on sample packaging and transport have been shared with all States/UTs.
 The State/District Surveillance Officers (SSOs) under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) of all states/UTs have been instructed to intensify surveillance activities for Monkeypox disease.
 A comprehensive 'Guidelines on Management of Monkeypox Disease' has been prepared by the Ministry of Health and Family and widely circulated to all States/UTs. The guideline has also been made available on the Union Ministry of Health's website. The guidelines cover all aspects to management of Monkeypox including case definitions, surveillance strategies, clinical management, infection prevention and control, and risk communication.
 Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials have been developed and circulated to create awareness about common symptoms, the need for immediate reporting of suspect cases, and its prevention for the community.
 A National Task Force on Monkeypox Disease has been constituted to monitor the development of diagnostics and vaccines for the management of Monkeypox disease.
 ICMR has successfully isolated the Monkeypox virus and has invited manufacturers of vaccines and diagnostic kits to come forward to take the virus strain for undertaking R&D.
Central Teams were also deployed on detection of confirmed cases to affected districts to assist in control and containment efforts by the State Health Authorities. Union Health Ministry is in regular interaction with all States/UTs through VC as well as formal communication and has advised all the States /UTs for requisite public health actions that need to be taken for control and containment of the outbreak.
Also Read: Serum Institute conducting research to find vaccine against monkeypox: Adar Poonawalla