Bengaluru airport has opened four Mpox screening stations, where authorities are checking all international travellers for elevated temperature and other symptoms.
Those who test positive will be required to undergo a mandatory 21-day quarantine, similar to the protocols implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A spokesperson for Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) said the airport is ready with safety protocols.
“All international passengers arriving at the airport are undergoing thorough temperature checks as part of the screening process,” the spokesperson said.
So far, India has reported one case of Mpox, but it is not the variant that the WHO has warned about. The case in India is not the clade 1b strain, which is considered the most virulent form of the virus.
What do the established security protocols for Mpox say?
1. An isolation zone has been established to deal with possible cases, allowing for rapid intervention if necessary.
2. Passengers arriving from areas with high Mpox rates, especially from African countries, are subject to increased monitoring.
3. People who test positive will be required to undergo a mandatory 21-day quarantine, following procedures similar to those implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic. They will be released only after a subsequent test confirms that they are no longer infected.
Mpox: A health emergency
On August 14, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a public health emergency.
Also, a suspected case of Mpox was reported at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport on Saturday. A traveller who arrived on a PIA flight from Jeddah showed symptoms consistent with Mpox.
Mpox is a viral disease. Originally identified in primates, it can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animals or through person-to-person contact with bodily fluids, respiratory droplets, or contaminated materials.
Symptoms include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. While the illness usually resolves on its own within a few weeks, severe cases can occur. Public health measures focus on isolation, infection control, and outbreak monitoring.
(With contributions from the agency)
First published: September 16, 2024 | 12:17 pm IS
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