(Image source from: Thehindu.com)

India reported its first confirmed case of "travel-related" Mpox, or monkeypox, in a young male who tested positive for a strain from western Africa. The patient is stable, without serious illness or other medical conditions, and was isolated over the weekend due to suspicion of carrying the virus. The government confirmed the presence of 'clade 2' of the virus, which is similar to 30 cases reported in India since July 2022. However, this strain is not part of the current public health emergency declared by the World Health Organization, which involves 'clade 1' of the Mpox virus. The Union Health Ministry has directed state governments to review their public health preparedness, particularly at the health facility level, with senior officials.

The government acknowledged the importance of addressing the Mpox situation, but emphasized the need to avoid undue panic. They highlighted information from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicating that most patients are men aged 18-44 who present with a rash and fever. The WHO has declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern due to the risk of the outbreak spreading beyond Africa, where a surge in cases has been reported. A new strain of the virus has also been discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Several cases have been reported in Pakistan's Peshawar, and the WHO reports over 120 countries have reported Mpox cases since January 2022, with over 100,000 lab-confirmed cases and around 220 deaths. The WHO states that a vaccine can help prevent infection or be administered after exposure to someone with Mpox. Close contacts can be advised to quarantine for up to 14 days if they have not shown any signs of illness.