AIIMS Issues Protocol for Mpox Cases as WHO Declares Public Health Emergency

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 20th August. The All India Institute for Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has introduced a new protocol for managing suspected mpox cases in response to the World Health Organization’s declaration of the disease as a public health emergency of international concern.

In light of rising global cases, Delhi government hospitals have been instructed to establish isolation rooms for both suspected and confirmed mpox patients, a health department official confirmed to PTI.

The Central government has also advised vigilance at airports, ports, and borders with Bangladesh and Pakistan for international travelers exhibiting mpox symptoms. According to AIIMS, emergency departments should implement a screening process in the triage area to promptly identify patients with symptoms such as fever, rash, or recent contact with confirmed cases.

Patients displaying key symptoms—including fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and characteristic skin lesions—should be immediately isolated to reduce exposure to other individuals and healthcare staff.

Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi has been designated as the primary facility for mpox management. Any suspected cases should be referred to Safdarjung Hospital for evaluation and treatment. Additionally, a dedicated ambulance service has been allocated for patient transport to the hospital. Health workers are instructed to use personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling suspected cases.

Currently, no mpox cases have been reported in India. However, officials noted that while the risk of a large-scale outbreak is considered low, global cases continue to rise. The Democratic Republic of Congo has seen a steady increase in cases, and this year’s global total has already surpassed last year’s figures, with over 15,600 cases and 537 deaths reported to date.