Mpox outbreak: High alert on all Indian airports issued

The Indian government has directed authorities at international airports and ports to monitor passengers entering the country from Bangladesh and Pakistan for mpox symptoms, PTI reported citing sources from the Union Health Ministry.

India so far has no detected cases of mpox, officials told PTI, adding that current assessment shows that the risk of a large outbreak of the disease, with sustained transmission is low.

An official told PTI, “The virus strain this time is different and is more virulent and infectious. But the risk of a large outbreak with sustained transmission is low in the country as per the current assessment.”

Mpox is not airborne and usually spreads through close, skin-to-skin contact between people.