Mpox Outbreak: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi on Tuesday issued an advisory on handling suspected patients of mpox. According to the guidelines, any patient coming to AIIMS will be screened in the triage area — patients will be assessed for fever, rash, or a history of contact with a confirmed mpox case and will be then flagged for assessment.
The symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and characteristic skin lesions.
“Mpox is a viral zoonosis with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although clinically less severe,” AIIMS stated.
The apex body also said that the WHO has declared Mpox outbreak as a public health emergency of International concern, thereby requiring heightened awareness, rapid identification and stringent infection control measures to prevent further spread.
“This SOP outlines the necessary steps to handle Mpox cases in AIIMS emergency department,” it added.
Beds have been earmarked in isolation areas for suspected patients; these will be allotted on the recommendation of the Emergency CMO and treated by the Medicine department. “AB-7 shall remain a temporary holding area for the patient till he/she is shifted to the hospital earmarked for the definitive care (Safdarjung Hospital),” said the AIIMS advisory.
AIIMS will refer patients to Safdarjung Hospital, which has been designated to manage and treat cases. For this, a dedicated ambulance has been allotted to shift patients to Safdarjung.
“The Emergency staff has to inform the ambulance coordinator on the mobile number — 8929683898 — to shift the suspected patient to Safdarjung hospital,” said the AIIMS advisory.
The AIIMS advisory further said all suspected cases, when identified, will be notified to officials of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). AB-7 Beds no. 33, 34, 35, 36, and 37 has been earmarked to isolate the Mpox patients.
“All patients should be handled with strict infection control measures. Staff should use personal protective equipment (PPE) when dealing with suspected cases,” it stated.
Meanwhile, the Delhi government also directed three of its hospitals — Lok Nayak, GTB and Baba Saheb Ambedkar — to set up isolation rooms to manage suspected and confirmed cases. Till now, no cases have been reported.
At least 99,176 cases and 208 deaths due to mpox have been reported from 116 countries since 2022, according to WHO data. Since 2022, 30 cases have been reported in India. The last case was detected in March 2024.
