Advisory on monkeypox: Arrange isolation beds, Bengal govt tells CMOHs

“If a suspected/probable case is found, the information should be shared with the State Surveillance Unit SSU/Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) immediately,” said a senior health official.  According to the state Health Department, there is no suspected monkeypox case in the state. In an advisory, the Health Department asked hospitals to keep the isolation beds ready, and directed them to collect samples from suspected patients and send them to the Pune-based National Institute of Virology.

“You are aware that WHO has declared the global monkeypox situation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on July 23. A total of four laboratory-confirmed cases have also been reported in India, calling for enhanced surveillance and preparedness in the country. All medical colleges in the districts are once again requested to make arrangement of a few isolation beds for suspected/confirmed cases in the institution,” read the circulation issued by West Bengal Health Department to all the medical colleges and district medical officers.