Mpox case detected in man not from current outbreak, no risk to public: Centre

The government has confirmed a new mpox (monkeypox) case in India but said it was an isolated one and that it was different from the strain, which was declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

This comes after a man, who travelled to India from a country, which is experiencing mpox transmission currently, was isolated and admitted to a hospital after being suspected of having the virus. In a statement, the Union Health Ministry said the isolated case was a “travel-related infection”.

“The previously suspected case of Mpox has been verified as a travel-related infection. Laboratory testing has confirmed the presence of the mpox virus of West African clade 2 in the patient. This case is an isolated case, similar to the earlier 30 cases reported in India from July 2022 onwards, and is not a part of the current public health emergency (reported by WHO) which is regarding clade 1 of mpox,” the ministry said.

It said the man who is infected with mpox is currently isolated at a designated tertiary care isolation facility. “The patient remains clinically stable and is without any systemic illness or comorbidities,” the ministry added.

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 health ministry said.

Earlier in the day, the Centre issued a fresh advisory to states and Union Territories on the issue of tracking and monitoring cases of mpox. It asked state governments to stay on alert and follow the ministry’s various guidelines on surveillance strategies and setting up of isolation facilities to track and deal with suspect and confirmed cases of the disease.

The WHO declared the recent outbreak of the virus, which can spread through contact, as a public health emergency of international concern on August 14, after a new variant of the virus was identified.

WHAT IS MPOX VIRUS?
The mpox virus is part of the same family of viruses as smallpox. It was first identified in 1958 in laboratory monkeys and later found in tropical rain forests in Central and West African countries.

The virus can spread through close contact with an infected person, contaminated materials or infected animals. Symptoms include a skin rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain and swollen lymph nodes, which can last for two to four weeks.

While most cases are mild and resolve on their own, some can be severe and require antiviral treatment.