Mumbai On Alert: BMC Sets Up Special Ward Amid Monkeypox Scare

A 14-bed ward has been set up at Seven Hills Hospital in Maharashtra's Mumbai as a precautionary measure amid Monkeypox scare.

Mumbai On Alert: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has set up a 14-bed ward at SevenHills Hospital in Mumbai’s Marol area as a precautionary measure amid the monkeypox scare. However, no monkeypox cases have been detected in the country. Last week, the Union Ministry issued guidelines alerting hospitals on the management of the disease. The BMC also held a meeting yesterday with airport authorities to implement special surveillance on flyers coming from virus-affected countries.

Airport Health Officer (APHO) department has already begun thermal screening of citizens coming from monkeypox-affected countries.

Monkeypox cases in Pakistan, Sweden

BMC officials clarified that as monkeypox has been reported in Pakistan and Sweden, screening of passengers will begin at Mumbai airport. “APHO will screen citizens coming from African countries, where the monkeypox outbreak emerged. Also, a health information desk has been set up at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport,” said the BMC press release.

If a passenger is suspected of having monkeypox, the person will be sent to SevenHills Hospital for isolation and further treatment.

Speaking to ANI, Assistant Medical Superintendent Dr Pradnya Pawar said, “We have set up 14 isolation beds. We have dedicated this ward to monkeypox. We also have an ICU for monkeypox. If a monkeypox suspect with serious complications comes in, we will admit him/her there. In India, we have not seen any cases but it is assumed that there can be cases. The main symptoms are rashes, fever, cough, and soar throat. A monkeypox patient can have asymptomatic symptoms.”

Proactive Measures

Earlier on, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan, has called for proactive measures to implement testing and quarantine facilities at Mumbai Airport in response to the global spread of the monkeypox (Mpox) virus.

In a letter to the state’s Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, Chavan recommended the immediate implementation of testing and quarantine facilities at Mumbai Airport for passengers arriving from high-incidence countries, a measure that was inadequately enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public Health Emergency

The WHO has announced a global health emergency in light of the swift surge of the disease, Mpox, particularly in the Eastern region of Congo, and its appearance in nearby countries. The first instance of Mpox has surfaced in Pakistan, as reported by its national health ministry. Similarly, on August 16, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa health department has confirmed two more cases. In a first-of-its-kind, the Mpox strain has been identified outside of Africa, with the Swedish government confirming its first case.

(with ANI inputs)