Delhi Reports Monkeypox Case, Health Officials Urge Public Calm

A confirmed case of West African clade 2 Monkeypox in Delhi has prompted health officials, including Dr Suresh Kumar of LNJP Hospital, to assure citizens of stable patient conditions and minimal cause for panic. Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra also issued guidelines for managing the disease.

After confirming a case of monkeypox, Dr Suresh Kumar, Medical Director of LNJP Hospital in Delhi, has urged the public to remain calm. He reassured that the patient, exhibiting fever and body ache symptoms, is stable and isolated, and the West African strain should not cause panic.

Dr Kumar shared that the hospital had treated 16 similar patients last year, all of whom recovered without complications. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj made a surprise visit to LNJP Hospital to review preparedness for both dengue and monkeypox. He noted that the monkeypox patient was infected while traveling abroad and is being kept in the Disaster Management Ward.

Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra issued an advisory to states and union territories, emphasizing precautionary measures against Mpox. The advisory included guidelines for managing monkeypox and directed widespread dissemination of updated alerts from the National Centre for Disease Control. This follows the disease's resurgence as a global concern in 2022.

(With inputs from agencies.)