❖ WHO has listed the first Mpox in vitro diagnostic under its Emergency Use Listing procedure.

❖ The Alinity m MPXV assay is a real-time PCR test that enables detection of monkeypox virus (clade I/II) DNA from human skin lesion swabs.

❖ Currently, 35 laboratories across India are equipped to test suspected cases of Mpox.

❖ In 2024, over 30,000 suspected cases were reported across the African region.