Pune: The state health department on Monday issued a circular containing guidelines and response measures if cases of Mpox were detected. Those reporting symptoms such as rashes, swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, exhaustion and chills — especially recent travellers to affected countries (in the last 3 weeks) or someone who has come in contact with a suspected case — have been asked to report to the nearest health centre, the circular stated, adding that samples will be sent to Pune’s National Institute of Virology for testing. A confirmation will come through genome sequencing or a PCR test.
Even the presence of a single confirmed case will be declared as an outbreak in that region, guidelines said. Confirmed cases have to be isolated and must wear triple-layered masks, at all times, till complete recovery. Close contacts risk contracting the infection through skin-to-skin contact, kissing, hugging, or sexual activity.
In severe cases, Mpox can trigger pneumonia, sepsis, neurological complications and even loss of vision. Dr Radhakishan Pawar, joint director, health services, Maharashtra, said: “As of now, govt of India has not recommended vaccination or active surveillance; only self-reporting is recommended. Incubation period for the Mpox virus could be anywhere between 6-13 days to 5-21 days.
Close contacts of a patient are very likely to get infected through contact, so a person with symptoms should be isolated immediately.” Dr Pawar added that contact with .