 "Mpox in India: 26-year-old Haryana man first confirmed case, should Indians be worried?")
India has the first confirmed case of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) virus. The Ministry of Health said that the laboratory testing of the suspected case, 26-year-old man from Haryana’s Hisar, has confirmed the presence of mpox virus of the West African Clade 2 in the patient.
The patient, India’s first mpox case, had returned to the country from abroad. On Saturday, he was admitted to the Delhi government-run LNJP Hospital.
He was isolated and admitted to the hospital after he showed symptoms of mpox.
So far, three Delhi government hospitals – Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital, GTB and Baba Saheb Ambedkar – have set up isolation rooms for suspected and confirmed cases of mpox virus.
Should India be worried?
Authorities said that Clade 2 is not part of the current public health emergency warning issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The 2022 epidemic was caused by Clade 2 which is still circulating in many countries, including in the West.
On August 14, the WHO was prompted to declare its highest international alert level after the resurgence and detection of a new strain, dubbed Clade 1b in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The latest Clade 1b strain was first detected among sex workers in eastern DR Congo in September 2023. Cases of the new strain have also been reported in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda – which had not detected mpox earlier. They have also been detected in Asia and Europe.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIt is worth mentioning that there have been no confirmed cases of mpox caused by the new Clade 1b strain of mpox virus in India.
Health condition of India’s first mpox case
Meanwhile, the health ministry said that the patient remains clinically stable and is without any systemic illness or comorbidities.
“The case aligns with earlier risk assessments and continues to be managed according to established protocols. Public health measures, including contact tracing and monitoring, are actively in place to ensure the situation is contained. There is no indication of any widespread risk to the public at this time,” the ministry further said.
Mpox symptoms
The symptoms of mpox include fever, headache, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes.
In severe cases, patients experience a distinctive rash that progresses through stages: macules, papules, vesicles, pustules, and scabs, which usually starts on the face and gradually spreads to the other parts of the body.
How does mpox transmit?
Mpox occurs through direct contact with infected animals, humans, or contaminated materials.
The virus can also spread through respiratory droplets, especially in prolonged close contact.
With inputs from agencies.
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