Delhi Monitors Mpox Situation Amid Concerns

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj announced that the city government is on high alert regarding the mpox situation, following a recent advisory from the Centre. He indicated that hospitals, including LNJP, GTB, and Baba Saheb Ambedkar, have been instructed to prepare isolation rooms for suspected and confirmed cases, though no cases have yet been reported. The WHO has classified mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern due to its spread across Africa. Bharadwaj criticized Lt Governor VK Saxena for delays in staffing new and existing hospitals, asserting that the addition of 14,000 new beds would be ineffective without adequate personnel. He accused the LG's office of inaction and called for accountability, suggesting that if the LG cannot manage staffing, the responsibility should revert to the elected government. The Delhi government is also expanding hospital infrastructure, but staffing issues hinder progress.