India has reported its first case of a more virulent strain of mpox, prompting concern among health officials globally due to the rapid spread of the virus.
The clade Ib strain was identified by health authorities in Kerala, specifically in a 38-year-old man who had recently returned from Dubai.
Kerala’s Health Minister, Veena George, commended the state’s “robust health care system” for its efficiency in detecting the case promptly.
The clade Ib strain, which had previously been restricted to the Democratic Republic of Congo, was designated a global health emergency by the World Health Organization in August after it began to spread to four African countries that had not experienced outbreaks before.
Since then, the strain has been detected in various nations outside of Africa, including Sweden and Thailand.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease known for its ease of transmission between humans and from infected animals.
The virus spreads through close contact, which includes activities such as touching, kissing, or sexual relations, as well as through contaminated materials such as clothing, bedding, and needles, according to the WHO.
Symptoms of mpox include fever, rash, lesions, headaches, muscle and back pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.
The virus is categorized into two genetic clades, I and II, with clade I having evolved over decades. Clade II was responsible for a global outbreak that prompted the WHO to declare a global health emergency from July 2022 to May 2023. Notably, clade Ib is associated with more severe manifestations of the disease.
A health official in Mallapuram district of Kerala, Dr. Shubhin C, provided an update on the patient’s condition, stating, “The patient is better. The lesions have started healing. No new lesions. He does not have any fever and no other symptoms now.”
The patient is being monitored closely and is currently recovering in isolation at a local hospital, with tests conducted every four days. He will be discharged once he has two consecutive negative test results.
In response to the outbreak, authorities have identified 29 individuals who were in close contact with the infected patient, all of whom are currently in self-quarantine.
Additionally, 37 passengers from the flight that arrived from Dubai, along with five other close contacts of the patient, are under monitoring.
Kerala has a history of effectively managing infectious disease outbreaks. Health Minister George noted that “surveillance has been strengthened, including at airports,” with five mpox testing facilities already operational and more planned if necessary. Isolation facilities have also been established to ensure public safety.
In 2023, Kerala successfully contained a Nipah virus outbreak that resulted in two fatalities, demonstrating the state’s capacity for rapid response and disease management.
