AIIMS Delhi issues SOPs to handle suspected Mpox cases after WHO alarm

Even though India has not reported any Mpox cases as yet, the Delhi government on August 20 directed three of its hospitals, namely, LNJP, GTB and Baba Saheb Ambedkar, to set up isolation rooms for management of suspected and confirmed cases of Mpox.

Meanwhile, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, has also issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) to handle suspected patients amid international scare, The Economic Times reported. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a public health emergency of international concern on August 14.

"Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although clinically less severe. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Monkeypox outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern, thereby requiring heightened awareness, rapid identification, and stringent infection control measures to prevent further spread," AIIMS Delhi said in a statement.

Also read: SII starts developing Mpox vaccine after WHO issues global health alert: Report

Here are the SOPs AIIMS issued to handle suspected Mpox patients:

1. Screening: Symptomatic patients, especially those with history of contact to other Mpox patients, ought to be flagged for immediate assistance. Key symptoms include fever, headache, body ache, chills, exhaustion, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes.

2. Isolation: Suspected patients ought to be isolated immediately and moved to designated isolation areas to reduce contact with others. According to an India TV report, certain beds have already been earmarked for isolating monkeypox patients. These will be allotted based on the Emergency CMO’s recommendation.