Mpox In India: Cong's Prithviraj Chavan Asks Govt To Start Testing At Mumbai Airport As Infection Hits Pakistan

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has urged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to ramp up testing and quarantine facilities at Mumbai Aiport given the growing cases of Mpox in various countries. Mpox was declared a global health emergency for a second time in two years by the World Health Organisation last week. The outbreak of the viral infection started in parts of Africa and is spreading fast to other countries, including Pakistan which has reported three cases so far. "I am writing to bring to your kind attention regarding the emerging threat of the Mpox (monkeypox) virus. Our country has faced a significant challenge recently in battling the Covid-19 virus. Thanks to the relentless and selfless efforts of millions of Covid warriors, we overcame that crisis at a great cost," said the Congress MLA in his letter to Maharashtra CM. Mpox विषाणू जगभरात पसरत आहे. तो आपल्या शेजारी पोहोचला आहे. High risk देशांतून येणाऱ्या सर्व प्रवाशांसाठी मुंबई विमानतळावर कठोर चाचणी आणि विलगीकरण प्रोटोकॉल लागू करण्यासाठी मी मुख्यमंत्र्यांना पत्र लिहिले आहे. #Mpox #StaySafe pic.twitter.com/sZNOUM37Z5— Prithviraj Chavan (@prithvrj) August 17, 2024"The WHO has recently declared Mpox a 'public health emergency'. The virus which has originated in Africa is now spreading fast and has now reached Pakistan. I strongly urge that the government take proactive steps to prevent its entry and transmission within our country," he flagged. "In light of this, I recommend implementing immediate testing and quarantine facilities at Mumbai Airport for passengers arriving from high- incidence countries, something which was not done properly during Covid-19," he sought. Chavan stressed that "timely action is critical" adding that any delay "could lead to severe consequences if an infected individual is allowed to enter India undetected." On Saturday, the Union Health Ministry reported that there were no cases of Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, in India. The ministry announced that precautionary measures will still be implemented to prevent and control the spread of the disease.