India Confirms First Case of Highly Transmissible Mpox Strain, WHO Declares Public Health Emergency

Date: 2024-09-24
news-banner
India has confirmed its first case of the new mpox strain, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a public health emergency, according to Reuters. 

Known as clade 1b, this highly transmissible variant has been associated with the mpox outbreak in Africa. 

Reports indicate the strain was detected in a 38-year-old man from Kerala, who recently returned from Dubai. 

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a virus known for its painful skin lesions and high contagion. 

The WHO named mpox a public health emergency in Africa last August. 

Since this declaration, the more virulent clade 1b strain has spread beyond Africa, reaching countries such as Sweden, Thailand, and Pakistan. 

On Tuesday, Health Ministry spokesperson Manisha Verma confirmed to Reuters that the case reported in Kerala's Malappuram district involved the clade 1 strain. 

The patient is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital, and health authorities are tracing and monitoring everyone he has been in contact with. 

The district health officer reported that 29 friends and family members, along with 37 passengers on his flight, are under surveillance, though none have shown symptoms so far, according to news reports. 

In the past two years, India has documented more than 30 mpox cases from the older and less contagious clade 2 strain. 

Earlier this month, a case of mpox was found in a man from the northern state of Haryana, who was hospitalized for a few days. 

Mpox can spread from animals to humans and between people through close contact with an infected individual—this includes sexual contact, skin-to-skin interaction, and close-range talking or breathing. 

The virus manifests with fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and body-wide lesions, and if not treated, it can be fatal. 

The federal government has advised all states to stay vigilant for potential mpox cases, with 35 laboratories across the country designated for testing suspected cases.

Leave Your Comments

Trending News

news-blog

WHO Report: Vaccines Could Reduce Antibiotic Use by 22%, Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

news-blog

Understanding Vertigo: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

news-blog

World Heart Day: A Global Call to Action for Heart Health

news-blog

Bridging the Gap: Advances in Women's Health and Equality