Written By: Satata Karmakar | Updated : September 9, 2024 8:46 PM IST
Monkeypox Enters India: Government Confirms First Mpox Case; No Immediate Risk To Public, Says Centre
Mpox Case In India: The Health Ministry on Monday confirmed that the previously suspected mpox case has tested positive and it has been verified as a travel-related infection. "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.
A young male patient, who recently returned to India from a country with active Mpox transmission has tested positive for the virus that is wreaking havoc globally.
In a press release, the Government of India confirmed that the isolated patient is infected with mpox virus clade 2. The press release underscored that the mpox virus in this case belongs to clade 2 and not clade 1 for which the World Health Organization has put the global health ecosystem on alert. The patient's health remains stable as of now.
In the release, the government stated - "The previously suspected case of Mpox (monkeypox) has been verified as a travel-related infection. Laboratory testing has confirmed the presence of the Mpox virus of the West African clade 2 in the patient."
The patient is currently isolated at a designated tertiary care isolation facility. The patient remains clinically stable and is without any systemic illness or comorbidities.
Mpox is not a new viral disease. First detected in the 1970s in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mpox formerly known as Monkeypox), is a rare disease caused by the Mpox virus. It is a viral infection that can spread between people, mainly through close contact, and occasionally from the environment to people via things and surfaces that a person with Mpox has touched.
Some of the most common symptoms of this infection include:
Mpox has quickly become a global health concern with over 100,000 confirmed cases and 220 deaths. India has now confirmed its first case, albeit a different clade one which isn't a part of the current global emergency.
On Monday, the Centre issued a fresh advisory to the states for tackling the Mpox cases. While highlighting the 'key public health actions' required to be taken to prevent the spread of mpox by the states, union territories and other key stakeholders, the Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra shared the pulic health advisory on his social media handle X. Here are the key points to be taken under cognizance.
Lastly, the Union Ministry has asked states and UTs to avoid any kind of spread of panic among people, "it is crucial that any undue panic amongst the masses is prevented." The Union Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation currently.
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