The central government has ramped up measures to combat the global surge in Mpox cases, directing heightened vigilance at key points of entry, including airports, ports, and border crossings. Official sources informed ANI that alerts have been issued to these critical locations, specifically targeting areas near Bangladesh and Pakistan.

To manage potential cases, three central hospitals—Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Hospital—are being equipped with isolation facilities. The Union Health Ministry has been proactive, convening meetings with experts to address concerns about this new virus, which differs from the previous Monkeypox virus.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare held discussions with states and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) last week, ensuring that points of entry remain on high alert. Testing facilities have been established at 32 ICMR centers across the country. Although Mpox presents symptoms similar to chickenpox and poses a higher risk of mortality, the likelihood of a large-scale outbreak in India remains low.

PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, led a review meeting on Sunday to evaluate the nation’s preparedness for Mpox. The meeting concluded that while enhanced surveillance and prompt response measures are in place, no cases have been reported in India to date. The World Health Organization (WHO) has categorized Mpox as a public health emergency of international concern, but no travel advisories have been issued. As of now, the risk of widespread transmission within India is assessed to be minimal.