State to start mpox screening at airports

Patna: Taking initiatives for surveillance of mpox, previously known as monkeypox, in Bihar, the health department has decided to set up help desks, to be manned by doctors, at Patna and Gaya airports — where most foreigners arrive — for screening of passengers from Tuesday, besides identifying three hospitals across the state where isolation wards will be set up for positive cases post test.The move comes after an instruction from the Union health ministry for all the airports as well as seaports to remain vigilant for those showing symptoms of mpox, a viral illness caused by monkeypox virus.

Earlier in August, the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared mpox as a public health emergency of international concern. Though no cases have been reported in India after that, there have been cases in neighbouring Pakistan with the latest one with travel history from Gulf, isolated on August 29.State surveillance officer Dr Ranjeet Kumar said a letter has been shot to the two airports, advising them to take all necessary precautions. "We were also asked to earmark one hospital in the state, but we have earmarked three — Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, and Infectious Disease Hospital in Patna, besides Anugraha Narayan Magadh Medical College and Hospital in Gaya — with five beds each reserved for isolation," said Dr Kumar. He added if any person is identified with symptoms for mpox at the airports, the concerned individual’s samples will be collected and sent for test to either Delhi or Kolkata.Patna district magistrate (DM) Chandrashekhar Singh on Monday said that a help desk at city’s Jayprakash Narayan International Airport will become functional in 24 hours. “Here the history of the last 21 days of international passengers will be taken. Travellers will have to submit a self-declaration form,” he said, directing the officials to display publicity material related to mpox at airports, inland navigation ports and the identified hospitals.Singh also instructed the civil surgeon of Patna to coordinate with Inland Navigation Authority, Gaighat, to ensure surveillance of international passengers coming to the state by ship, besides keeping 10 beds each ready in both the hospitals — five for suspected cases and five for confirmed ones.Gaya district magistrate Thiyagarajan S M said the administration will coordinate with the airport and health department and take all necessary steps.Gaya airport director Bangajit Saha too said the airport health organisation, which comes under the ministry of health and family welfare, with the district civil surgeon will depute doctors for screening of passengers and other necessary steps. "We will have all the precautions the way we had during Covid-19 outbreak," said Saha.Asked about international travellers who come in large numbers in Bodh Gaya, Saha said the international flights would start operations from mid-October. “Before that we will be ready with the system for screening of passengers.”As per WHO, the common symptoms of mpox are skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can last for two to four weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes. It gets transmitted during close contact with a person who has been infected with the virus, or with contaminated material like towel or linen, or infected animals.According to the ministry of health and family welfare, a total of 30 mpox cases were detected in India since 2022 when a global outbreak began and the WHO had declared it a public health emergency of international concern. India’s last mpox case was detected in March 2024.
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