India reports 4th monkeypox case, WHO for enhanced vigil

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 24

As India reported its fourth monkeypox case on Sunday — a 34-year-old male from Delhi with no foreign travel history — the WHO urged Southeast Asian countries, including India, to urgently enhance surveillance and public health measures to detect the infection and mount responses, besides considering informed vaccination options.

Delhi man ‘attended’ stag party in Manali

• The 34-year-old man from Delhi is the fourth monkeypox case in the country after three reported from Kerala
• He has no foreign travel history, ‘attended’ a stag party in Manali

The Health Ministry said the NIV, Pune, had confirmed the fourth patient (others being from Kerala), currently isolated at Lok Nayak Hospital in Delhi. Sources said the patient had attended a stag party in Manali in Himachal Pradesh recently. The ministry held a high-level review meeting and asked the states to be ready with isolation facilities and emergency response.

“The patient’s close contacts have been quarantined. The identification of the source of infection, enhanced contact tracing and testing sensitisation of private practitioners are being carried out,” it said. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said there was no need to panic.

WHO Southeast Asia Regional Director Poonam Khetarpal has asked countries to strengthen surveillance a day after the health body declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern. She said its rapid spread was a matter of great concern. Globally, over 16,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported from 75 countries. The Southeast Asian region has five cases (four in India, one in Thailand). The cases in India, the WHO said, were among nationals who returned from the Middle East, while in Thailand, a foreigner had been tested positive. The WHO has asked nations to consider targeted use of vaccines for pre-exposure prophylaxis in persons at risk of exposure. Since smallpox (now eradicated) and monkeypox viruses were closely related, vaccines for the former could help, but the decision must be based on full assessment of risks and benefits, it said.

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