India ramping up monkeypox testing capacity amid rising cases: Here's how

Tapping the TB testing network, screening tests, quick-result PCRs are all in the works

With India having nine laboratory-confirmed cases of monkeypox and experts cautioning that testing for this disease is low owing to social prejudices that go with it, the country is amping up its testing capacity.

This is in addition to leveraging the tuberculosis-testing network in the country.

Several other point-of-care testing kits are in the process of being made.

The recently formed “Central Task Force on Monkeypox” too has stressed developing diagnostics and vaccines for this contagious disease.

Globally almost 98 per cent of the monkeypox cases have been detected among gay or bisexual men though it is not classified as