India Reports Mpox Case From Old Strain

India has identified an mpox case involving the older West African clade 2 strain. The patient is stable and contact tracing is ongoing. The World Health Organization has declared a global health emergency for the new, rapidly spreading strain, which India has not yet reported. However, the government has urged states to remain vigilant, reports Reuters. 

The country has reported a case of mpox in a traveler who recently visited a country experiencing an outbreak of the virus. The patient, who is isolated in a hospital, is in stable condition. The ministry had not specified the strain of the virus initially, but subsequent tests identified it as clade 2, the same strain detected in 30 cases in India from July 2022 to March 2024.

Mpox, which spreads through close contact, generally causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Although usually mild, it can be fatal in rare cases, particularly among children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

India has not reported cases of the new, rapidly spreading mpox strain that has led the WHO to declare a public health emergency. The government has issued an advisory to states, urging them to remain vigilant and prepare for potential cases of the new strain.

The situation is under control, with ongoing contact tracing to assess any impact and identify sources of the infection, writes Reuters.