Mpox Alert: First Suspected Case Identified in India, No Cause for Alarm, Says Health Ministry

A suspected case of mpox has been identified in a man who recently returned from a country experiencing an outbreak, according to a statement issued by the Union Health Ministry. The patient, a young male, is currently isolated in a hospital and is stable. Health authorities are conducting tests to confirm the infection, with contact tracing in progress to manage potential risks and prevent further transmission. The ministry emphasized that India has robust measures in place to handle such cases.

Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus, belongs to the orthopoxvirus family and shares some similarities with the smallpox virus, though it generally results in less severe symptoms. Smallpox was eradicated in 1980, but Mpox remains prevalent in central and west Africa. However, since May 2022, Mpox has been reported in countries outside these regions, marking the first time it has spread to areas without previously recorded transmission.

The monkeypox virus has two distinct strains: Clade I, formerly the Congo Basin clade, and Clade II, previously known as the west African clade. Both strains have been linked to human cases, with varying severity and transmission patterns.

The Indian government has ramped up monitoring efforts at key entry points, including airports and land borders, especially those adjacent to Bangladesh and Pakistan, following reports of Mpox cases in countries like Sweden and Pakistan. Officials are on high alert to detect and isolate any potential cases early to prevent further spread.

Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for manufacturers of Mpox diagnostic tools to submit for Emergency Use Listing (EUL) to ensure effective testing is available, particularly in low-income regions. On August 14, 2024, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the surge of Mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other African nations a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

Health authorities assure the public that the situation is under control, with robust measures in place to manage this isolated case.