Mpox: Pune Sets Up 10-Bed Isolation Ward at Naidu Hospital, Screens Thousands at Airport
Mpox: Pune Sets Up 10-Bed Isolation Ward at Naidu Hospital, Screens Thousands at Airport
In response to India’s first confirmed Mpox case in Pune, civic health authorities intensify screening and isolation measures.
Following the first confirmed transmission of Mpox in Pune, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has established a 10-bed isolation ward at Naidu Infectious Diseases Hospital. Dr. Vaishali Jadhav, PMC’s assistant health officer, reported that nearly 4,000 individuals arriving on 38 flights have been screened at Pune International Airport, particularly those arriving from high-risk regions like Dubai and Singapore.
So far, no chronic cases have been detected, but precautions have been heightened. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued an advisory, instructing states to review their public health preparedness. In response, PMC has directed healthcare professionals, including those in skin and STD clinics, to stay vigilant for symptoms of Mpox and to notify suspected cases promptly.
An infectious diseases expert, emphasized the need for medical education on Mpox diagnosis, management, and prevention. He pointed out that while Mpox is not spread through the respiratory route, it is largely transmitted through sexual contact, particularly among men who have sex with men and individuals with multiple sexual partners. Prevention efforts, including vaccination, should focus on these groups.
Screening at airports is expanding, with domestic passengers now being monitored for Mpox symptoms following the confirmation of the first case. The state health department has instructed hospitals in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur to prepare isolation wards. In Mumbai, Kasturba and Seven Hills Hospitals are setting aside 50 beds each, while Naidu Hospital in Pune and AIIMS in Nagpur are also on alert.
The Centre has confirmed that the Mpox case in Pune is linked to travel, involving the West African clade 2 strain, which is not part of the current global public health emergency related to clade 1. The government reassured the public that there is no widespread risk at this time. According to WHO, Mpox primarily spreads through close physical contact, including within households.
