Bihar’s Health Department has issued an advisory to district administrations and hospitals, focusing on preventing the spread of Monkeypox. The department has asked officials to raise awareness about the viral disease among the public.
Health Desk at Patna Airport
In response to the advisory, the Patna district administration has instructed the civil surgeon to establish a health desk at Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport as a priority. Patna District Magistrate (DM) Chandrashekhar Singh informed PTI that while no cases of Monkeypox have been reported in the state, strict surveillance is being implemented. “Airport officials and the district civil surgeon have been tasked with closely monitoring incoming travelers,” Singh stated.
Monitoring International Travelers
Officials have been directed to check the travel history of all international passengers arriving in Patna over the past 21 days. The health desk at Patna airport will be operational within 24 hours of the advisory’s release. Additionally, officials from the Inland Navigation Authority at Gaighat, Patna, have been asked to keep a close watch on international travelers arriving by ship. The DM emphasized that although no cases have been detected in the district or state, all necessary preventive measures are being taken.
Hospitals on High Alert
Hospitals and government health centers have been instructed to inform the authorities immediately if any cases of Monkeypox are identified. They have also been told to reserve beds for isolating any patients who test positive. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has already sent an advisory to the state’s Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) due to the growing number of Monkeypox cases in other countries.