A young man in India who had recently returned from a country experiencing an Mpox (monkeypox) outbreak, has been identified as the first suspected Mpox case in India.
He is symptomatic but stable, with samples taken to confirm infection.
Authorities have initiated contact tracing and are managing the case according to established protocols to identify sources and assess the impact within India.
This situation aligns with the earlier risk assessment by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Officials stress there is no cause for alarm, stating, “the country is well-prepared to handle isolated travel-related cases.” They also asserted that robust measures are in place to manage and mitigate any potential risk.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals but can also be passed between humans through close physical contact. It can sometimes be deadly, causing fever, muscular aches, and large boil-like skin lesions.
The World Health Organization declared an international emergency on August 14 due to a surge in cases of the Clade 1b strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which then spread to nearby countries. A vaccination campaign against Mpox in Congo will begin on October 2.
(Excerpts : TOI)
