TBM Staff - Mumbai The Indian government has heightened surveillance at international airports and ports, particularly for passengers arriving from Bangladesh and Pakistan, to monitor for symptoms of mpox.
Officials emphasise that the risk of a large outbreak in the country is low, despite a more virulent and infectious strain being identified.
Mpox primarily spreads through close, skin-to-skin contact and is not airborne, which contributes to the lower risk of widespread transmission.
In contrast, the Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing a significant outbreak, with a reported need for 3 million vaccine doses. The United States and Japan have pledged vaccine donations, with the first shipment from the US expected soon.
Additionally, new variants of the mpox virus have been identified in Sweden and Congo, with concerns over increased transmissibility and changes in symptom presentation, such as lesions appearing on the genitals instead of the chest, hands, and feet, making detection more challenging. Despite these developments, the risk to the general public in affected areas like Sweden is still considered low.
