Mpox Case: India on Monday confirmed its first Mpox (monkeypox) case in a patient who recently returned from abroad and was isolated after he developed symptoms of the deadly disease. The sample of the patient tested positive for the West African clade 2 variant, a report stated. The health officials said that the Clade 2 variant is not part of the public health emergency issued by the World Health Organisation.
The patient had returned from a country experiencing a Mpox outbreak, the health ministry said, adding that he remained stable, while measures were taken to isolate the person. The Ministry further added that the case is being dealt with through the established protocol, which involves contact tracing, identifying potential sources of infection and assessing the situation within the country.
Patient Stable, Isolated: Health Min
The Union Health Ministry further said that the case is of an isolated nature, similar to the 30 cases reported in India from July 2022 onwards. The person, a young 30-year-old male is clinically stable and remained without any systemic illness or comorbidities, the Ministry said.
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"The individual, a young male who recently travelled from a country experiencing ongoing Mpox transmission, is currently isolated at a designated tertiary care isolation facility. The patient remains clinically stable and is without any systemic illness or comorbidities," a statement by the Health Ministry stated.
Centre Asks States To Amp Up Measures
Earlier in the day, the centre asked state governments to ramp up the infrastructure to be ready to fight a possible Mpox outbreak. States were asked to ensure robust setups for screening, testing and surveillance of suspected and confirmed cases.
The government advised screening and testing for all suspected Mpox (monkeypox) cases, with confirmed patients to be isolated. Contact tracing was recommended to minimize the risk of spread or fatalities. Authorities emphasized avoiding public panic and urged states and union territories to designate hospitals, set up isolation facilities, and prepare for suspected and confirmed cases.