The monkeypox virus spread can be curtailed with the right strategies in the right groups, without creating stigma and discrimination, said Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia adding that the risk of monkeypox in WHO South-East Asia Region is currently assessed as moderate.
“However, in view of the complexities and uncertainties associated with this multi-country public health event, WHO announced the ongoing monkeypox transmission as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the highest level of global public health alert for countries to implement a coordinated response, with the goals of stopping human-to-human transmission and protecting the vulnerable groups,’’ Dr. Poonam cautioned.
Stating that the testing capacities for monkeypox globally, and in the region are limited, but are being strengthened Dr. Poonam Singh said that India’s National Institute of Virology, Pune, is one of the four referral laboratories for countries across WHO South-East Asia region. India has identified a network of laboratories for the diagnosis of monkeypox.
