Delhi Hospitals Set Up Isolation Rooms for Mpox

Delhi – In response to the global Mpox, Delhi’s government hospitals, including Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Lok Nayak, and Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, have been instructed to establish isolation rooms for suspected Mpox cases. Despite these preparations, no Mpox cases have been detected locally yet.

The directive mandates the creation of 20 isolation rooms, with 10 designated for confirmed cases at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP) and the remaining split between Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) and Baba Saheb Ambedkar hospitals. LNJP will serve as the nodal facility for managing the disease, with the other two hospitals on standby.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to a significant rise in cases across Africa. The global tally has reached 99,176 cases and 208 deaths across 116 countries since 2022, with the most recent case reported in March 2024.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has issued a new treatment advisory amid the rising global incidence of Mpox. The advisory includes a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for its Emergency Department, focusing on rigorous screening for symptoms such as fever, rash, and a history of exposure to confirmed cases.

Patients at AIIMS will undergo thorough screening in the triage area. Those showing symptoms of Mpox—fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and characteristic skin lesions—will be evaluated and treated as part of an enhanced response to control the outbreak.

These measures underscore the heightened vigilance and preparedness required to manage potential Mpox cases effectively. The establishment of isolation facilities and implementation of new treatment protocols aim to curb the spread of the disease and ensure timely care for affected individuals.