Centre confirms mpox case, but says it's a different strain

NEW DELHI: The Union health ministry on Monday confirmed that the person who was recently isolated on arrival to India from an African country is positive for the Monkeypox (Mpox) virus.

However, the ministry clarified, the strain of the Mpox virus affecting the person, West African clade 2, is not part of the current public health emergency. "This case is an isolated case, like 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 health ministry explained.

Sources said the person found positive for Mpox had travelled to India from a country experiencing ongoing Mpox transmission. He is currently isolated at a designated tertiary care isolation facility in Delhi. "The patient remains clinically stable and is without any systemic illness or comorbidities," said a govt source. She added that 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 source said.

However, as a matter of abundant precaution, Union health secretary Apurva Chandra has asked the states/UTs to disseminate information on screening, testing and management of Mpox. Chandra, in a letter sent to all states/UTs, has also directed officials to identify isolation facilities in hospitals for taking care of both suspect and confirmed cases, availability of required logistics and trained human resources.

About the current outbreak, the health secretary has pointed out that most (Mpox) cases are young males with a median age of 34 years (range 18-44 years). Among modes of transmission reported globally, sexual contact is the most reported, followed by person-to-person non-sexual contact. The most common symptom is rash, followed by fever, he adds.


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