Amid growing concerns over the spread of Mpox, Congress’ Prithviraj Chavan has urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to implement strict testing and quarantine protocols at Mumbai airport for passengers arriving from high-risk countries.
The Congress leader said in X: “It has reached our neighbourhood. We need to act. I have written to the CM to implement a strict testing and quarantine protocol at Mumbai airport for all arriving passengers from high-risk countries.”
The World Health Organization declared the virus a public health emergency and recently it was reported in Pakistan. Chavan said it is necessary to take timely action otherwise it could have serious consequences.
The Union Health Ministry on Saturday said no cases of monkeypox have been reported in India, but precautionary measures are still being taken to prevent and control the spread of the disease. While the ministry acknowledges that some imported cases may emerge in the coming weeks, it currently assesses the risk of a large outbreak with sustained transmission in India as low.
During a meeting chaired by Health Minister JP Nadda, it was noted that monkeypox infections usually resolve on their own and last between 2 and 4 weeks. Patients generally recover with supportive care.
Transmission typically requires prolonged close contact with an infected person and generally occurs through sexual contact, direct contact with bodily fluids or injuries, or contact with contaminated clothing or linens of an infected person.
(With PTI inputs)