First probable case of mpox reported in India; male patient kept in isolation

According to the health ministry, the young patient just traveled from a nation where the viral outbreak was occurring. 

The health ministry of India reports that it has identified a guy who recently traveled from a nation where the virus was spreading as a possible case of mpox.

The world’s most populous country has put “robust measures” in place, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday. The young male patient has been isolated in a hospital and is stable.

“The health ministry further stated that established protocols are handling the case and that contact tracing is ongoing to identify possible sources and assess the impact within the country.”

Tests were being performed to confirm the patient’s infection, but the ministry did not specify which type of the mpox virus the patient might have.

Because the mpox strain belonging to clade 1b appears to spread more readily through routine close contact, it has caused alarm throughout the world.

Last week, a case of the variation was identified in Sweden and connected to an expanding outbreak in Africa. Between March 2022 and March 2024, 30 cases of an earlier strain, referred to as clade 2, were discovered in India. 

The virus, which was once known as monkeypox, was found in 1958 in Denmark in monkeys that were maintained for scientific purposes. In humans, it was initially discovered in 1970. It is brought on by a virus that can spread from person to person through intimate personal contact and is primarily spread by infected animals to people.

Rarely, it might be fatal, but it is usually moderate. It results in pus-filled sores on the body and flu-like symptoms.

The World Health Organization (WHO) renamed the disease monkeypox to mpox last year after claiming the original moniker was perceived as “racist.” Following the discovery of the novel variety last month, the global health organization deemed the epidemic to be a public health emergency of international concern. 

The WHO did note, however, that this outbreak of mpox is not another COVID-19.

The WHO reports that since the year began, there have been over 17,500 cases of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and 629 deaths related to the disease. There are two strains in the nation: clade 1b and clade 1a.

First-ever mpox vaccines have reached the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where health officials are hoping they may help contain an outbreak that has forced the UN to declare a global public health emergency.

Moreover, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand have reported cases of the infection.

Read more news:

How Light Pollution is Harming Human Health

Previous Post
Next Post