India on alert after Mpox cases in Sweden, Pakistan

Amid reports of Mpox cases in Sweden, and Pakistan, an infectious disease expert on Friday urged health authorities to begin screening for the deadly infectious disease at key airports in India to help curb the spread.

Mpox (formerly Monkeypox) has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa CDC this week, after the latest outbreak spread to 13 countries in Africa, including four new countries.

The latest outbreak due to the more virulent and deadly strain -- Clade 1b has also spread to Sweden. The WHO has warned of more cases in Europe. Pakistan has reported 3 cases, but the strain causing the disease is yet to be known.

“Mpox is being taken seriously as an international and not purely regional concern. It would be wise at this point for India to screen at airport entry for symptoms and to isolate those who might be infected. We should especially screen travellers from countries which have reported cases of Mpox in the recent outbreak,” Dr Gautam Menon, Dean of Research and Professor of Physics and Biology, at Ashoka University, said.

Keeping track of infected travellers who may report infections later is also important so that their contact can be informed and tested.

"Indian medical agencies should ensure that they are at the forefront of what is known about the epidemiology of Mpox, whether one can carry it asymptomatically, what are the modes of transmission, etc,” Menon added.