Guwahati: Two more cases of Monkeypox were detected in the country, officials from the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi reported on Friday.
They added that the patients were thereafter admitted to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP) hospital. Out of the 12 samples taken by the AIIMS, two have tested positively.
“The two patients who were diagnosed with monkeypox here have never travelled before. As of now, the nation has more than adequate capability to conduct the testing. The ICMR has already authorised 15 labs for testing across the nation “said Dr. Lalit Dar, professor of the AIIMS Department of Microbiology.
The hospital had analysed 12 samples of possible monkeypox patients on Thursday. One of the 15 labs authorised by the Department of Health Research-Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is the Virology Lab at AIIMS, Delhi.
When addressing ANI, Dr. Dar stated: “We’ve had 12 samples arrive at the Virology Laboratory Department of Microbiology from various states. Additionally, Delhi sent samples for us.”
So far, AIIMS, Delhi received samples from Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.
Notably, none of the patients who tested positive for monkeypox at the AIIMS lab had recently visited another country.
Regarding the ability to conduct testing, Dr. Lalit stated, “Currently, we only receive a few samples per day, which is a little amount. The government increased the RTPCR testing capacity during COVID. RTPCR is carried for for monkeypox. Depending on demand and patient volume, we have the capacity to conduct 400 samples per day.”
He continued, “As of now, the nation has more than adequate capability to conduct the testing. The Department of Health Research, ICMR has already approved 15 labs for testing around the nation.”
Meanwhile, isolation rooms became operational as the number of cases of monkeypox increased across the nation.
According to ANI, these isolation chambers are in use at three significant central government hospitals: Safdarjang Hospital, RML Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Hospital.