A 14-bed ward has been set aside for monkeypox patients at Mumbai's Seven Hills Hospital in Maharashtra.

Mumbai (Maharashtra), August 23: A 14-bed ward has been designated at Seven Hills Hospital in Mumbai, Maharashtra, as a preventive measure against the potential spread of monkeypox.

Although no cases of monkeypox have been reported in the Mumbai metropolitan area, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken these steps in accordance with government directives.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's Public Health Department is collaborating with the Health Information Room at the International Airport.

While cases of monkeypox have been identified in Pakistan and Sweden, additional precautions are being implemented in Mumbai due to the city's significant number of international visitors. As of now, no monkeypox cases have been reported within the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's jurisdiction.

Dr. Pradnya Pawar, Assistant Medical Superintendent, stated, "We have set up 14 isolation beds specifically for monkeypox. An ICU has also been prepared for any serious cases. Although India has not yet seen any monkeypox cases, we are preparing for the possibility. The primary symptoms include rashes, fever, cough, and sore throat. Monkeypox patients may also present with asymptomatic symptoms."

Previously, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan urged proactive measures, including testing and quarantine facilities at Mumbai Airport, in light of the global spread of the monkeypox (Mpox) virus.

In a letter to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Chavan advocated for the immediate establishment of testing and quarantine facilities at Mumbai Airport for travelers arriving from high-incidence countries, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement compared to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Mpox a public health emergency of international concern, following a rapid increase in cases in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its spread to neighboring countries.

Pakistan's federal health ministry recently confirmed the country's first Mpox case, and on August 16, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) health department confirmed two additional cases in the province, as reported by the Express Tribune.

The Swedish government has also confirmed its first case of Mpox, marking the first instance of the variant outside Africa, according to Al Jazeera.