Kerala confirms second mpox case, again a UAE return youth tests positive

A second case of mpox has been reported in Kerala where a 26-year-old youth who recently returned from the UAE has tested positive.  

As per a report by The New Indian Express the youth returned to Ernakulam on Friday. His  samples were tested at the National Institute of Virology lab in Alappuzha.

After the test report, the samples were sent for genomic sequencing at the National Institute of Virology in Pune .

According to a report by Onmanorama, the Kerala mpox patient is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital in the district.  

His condition is said to be stable, a report by The Indian Express quoted health department officials as saying.

Kerala reported its first case of mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), last week after a 38-year-old man, who also returned from the UAE to Malappuram tested positive for the infection.  

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He was diagnosed with the Clade 1B infection, the first case of this clade in India.  

The World Health Organization (WHO) had declared mpox as a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern’ due to the risks associated with Clad 1B variant of the infection.

Kerala health minister Veena George has earlier urged all international travellers returning to the state to seek immediate medical attention if they show any symptoms of mpox.  

The Kerala government has been keeping itself prepared to tackle potential surge in mpox cases in the state. Isolation wards for mpox patients have been set up at district and general hospitals in all 14 districts. Also, treatment facilities have been made available at medical college hospitals across the state.

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Centre issues new mpox advisory for states

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government issued a fresh advisory for all states and union territories, warning against mpox.  

The government has urged all states and UTs to implement key public health measures to minimise and restrict the spread of mpox in India.

“Clinical presentation of Mpox clade I in adults remains similar to clade II," the advisory said, adding that however, the rate of complications may be higher in clade I than with clade II infections.

The Centre has instructed states to assess public health preparedness at healthcare facilities by deploying senior officials in conducting reviews both at the state and district levels.

Also, states and UTs have been asked to identify isolation facilities in hospitals for managing both suspected and confirmed cases and ensure the availability of required logistics and trained human resources in such facilities. Also, an augmentation plan should be developed by them.

The ministry has also said that all suspected mpox cases should be isolated and strict infection prevention and control measures should be put in place.  

Samples from skin lesions of any patient with the suspected symptoms of mpox should be sent to the designated labs immediately, and for those that test positive a sample should be sent to designated labs immediately, and the positive sample should be sent to ICMR-NIV for genome sequencing to determine the clade.

Mpox symptoms

Mpox spreads by the virus of the same family as smallpox. Common symptoms of mpox include skin rashes or mucosal lesion which can last between two to four weeks. The rash usually starts on the face and spreads to other parts.  

Those infected may also experience fever, flu-like symptoms, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.

How mpox transmits 

Mpox spreads through close skin to skin contact with someone who has been infected. It can also spread through contaminated surfaces, or through infected animals. In some cases, the infection can be deadly.

Human-to-human transmission can occur through respiratory droplets, direct contact with infected bodily fluids or lesions, and indirectly through contaminated materials.