The first case of Mpox Clade 1b, the strain linked to the public health emergency notice issued by the World Health Organization, has been reported from India. According to press sources, the case was apparently verified in the Malappuram region of Kerala.
The patient with the Clade 1b strain is a 38-year-old male patient from Kerala who tested positive last week, the reports further claimed. The patient, who had recently returned from the United Arab Emirates, is currently in stable condition.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is a zoonotic disease transmitted through direct contact with infectious skin lesions or contaminated objects like clothing or linens. The Kerala case marks the second detection of Mpox in India since the WHO declared it a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
An earlier case in New Delhi involved a 26-year-old male from Haryana who tested positive for the West African Clade 2 strain, which was not covered under the WHO’s emergency alert. The patient was reportedly discharged on Saturday.
In light of the recent cases, the Union Health Ministry has directed all states and Union Territories to enhance their public health preparedness, focusing on the screening and testing of suspected Mpox cases across the country.
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