India has confirmed its inaugural case of the new mpox strain, prompting a public health emergency alert from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The newly identified variant, designated as clade 1b, exhibits high transmissibility and has been associated with the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa.
Reports indicate that a new strain has been identified in a 38-year-old man from Kerala who recently returned from Dubai.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a transmissible virus that can cause painful skin lesions.
In August, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified mpox, previously known as monkeypox, as a public health emergency in Africa.
The more dangerous variant of the virus has now spread beyond the African continent, reaching countries such as Sweden, Thailand, and Pakistan.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Health Ministry, Manisha Verma, confirmed to Reuters that the mpox case identified in the Malappuram district of Kerala was classified as belonging to clade 1.
Authorities have confirmed that the patient is currently receiving treatment in a hospital while efforts are underway to trace and monitor individuals who came into contact with him.
The district health officer reported that approximately 29 friends and family members of the patient, along with 37 passengers from his flight, are currently under monitoring. However, according to the news agency, none have shown any symptoms to date.
Over the past two years, India has documented more than 30 cases of mpox attributed to the older clade 2 strain, recognized for its lower infectiousness.
Earlier this month, a case of the mpox strain was identified in a man from northern Haryana state, leading to his hospitalization for several days.
Mpox is transmitted from animals to humans and can also spread between individuals through close contact with an infected person. This includes interactions such as sexual activity, skin-to-skin contact, and even conversations or breathing in proximity to one another.
The condition may lead to a range of symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and lesions appearing throughout the body. Untreated mpox poses a significant risk, potentially leading to fatal outcomes.
The federal government has released a warning to all states, urging them to remain alert for possible cases of mpox.
Approximately 35 laboratories nationwide have been assigned to conduct tests on suspected mpox cases.
