AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj conducts surprise inspection at LNJP hospital to review preparedness for monkeypox and dengue infections

New Delhi [India], September 10 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party leader (AAP) Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on Tuesday conducted a surprise inspection at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan hospital (LNJP) here to review the preparedness for the dengue and monkeypox infections.

On his visit to the hospital, Bhardwaj said that one case of monkeypox has been confirmed of a person who was travelling abroad.

Speaking to ANI, Bhardwaj said, ” I conducted a surprise visit at the LNJP hospital today to review the preparations for dengue and monkeypox. One case of monkeypox has been confirmed till now and the patient has a travel historyand got infected when he was travelling abroad.”

Further, he added that the patient has been stable and has been kept in isolation in the Disaster Management Ward.

“The patient has been kept in isolation in the Disaster Management Ward and is stable. We are also reviewing the preparations for dengue in the hospitals. I will be conducting surprise inspections at other hospitals as well to review the preparedness,” he added.

Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra on Monday issued an advisory to states and union territories regarding the precautionary actions, symptoms and causes of WHO declared Public Health Emergency of International Concern “Mpox.”.

The Union Health Secretary, in an issued advisory, highlighted the key public health actions that are required to be undertaken to prevent or minimise the risk of any case or death due to Mpox in the country.

The Union Health Secretary directed the states to widely disseminate the Ministry’s “Guidelines for Management of Monkeypox Disease” and take action on the updated CD-Alert (communicable disease alert) on Mpox issued by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The advisory also directed the states to review public health preparedness, particularly at the health facility level at the state and district level, by senior officials.

It also included identification of isolation facilities in hospitals for taking care of both suspect and confirmed cases.

According to the issued advisory, in the most cases, young males with a median age of 34 years are most affected by Mpox while the sexual mode of transmission is the most common mode of transmission reported globally, followed by person-to- person non-sexual contact.

Around half of cases with available information on their HIV status are reported to be in persons living with HIV.