Mpox Case Confirmed in India: Should We Panic?

Amid widespread concern about the global resurgence of Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, India has confirmed its first case of the virus. The Indian government has acknowledged the presence of the West African clade 2 Mpox virus, confirmed in an isolated patient. However, the clade 2 variant is not the same as the clade 1 mpox variant, a more virulent strain for which the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency in August 2024.

The Indian government in a press release confirmed that the patient is stable and poses no immediate risk to the public. The statement said: “A previously suspected case of Mpox (monkey pox) has been confirmed as a travel-associated infection. Laboratory testing has confirmed the presence of West African clade 2 Mpox virus in the patient. This is an isolated case, similar to the earlier 30 cases reported in India since July 2022, and is not part of the current public health emergency (according to WHO), regarding the 1 mpox hoard.”

The patient in question is a young male who recently travelled from a country where Mpox transmission is ongoing. He is currently isolated in a designated tertiary care isolation facility, remains clinically stable and has no systemic illnesses or comorbidities.

According to the government, the situation is being controlled in accordance with established protocols, with public health measures including contact tracing and monitoring being implemented to contain the situation.

Should India be concerned about the spread of Mpox?

Susceptibility to Mpox in India is relatively low, with only 31 cases reported in the country since July 2022, an infectious disease specialist says. Dr. Charu Dutt Arora.

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“The Ministry of Health has stated that the recent case reported on September 9, 2024, is an isolated incident and is not part of the ongoing global public health emergency associated with clade 1 of the virus. The patient is currently isolated in a designated health facility. There is no reason to panic as the risk of a large outbreak with sustained transmission is low. The Ministry of Health is conducting serotesting of all possible cases with travel history to limit any widespread risk to the community,” Dr. Arora told Health Shots.

What is mpox?

Mpox is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus. According to WHOCommon symptoms of MPCS include a skin rash that can last 2 to 4 weeks, followed by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.

It is spread through close contact with an infected person. It can also be spread from an infected animal, says an internal medicine specialist, Dr. Shivam Sharma.

Treatment of MPCS includes supportive care to relieve pain and fever, with particular attention to nutrition, hydration, skin care, prevention of secondary infections, and treatment of concomitant infections.

Click here to learn more about mpox and its influence.

How to prevent mpox?

The news of the global spread of the mpox virus comes at a time when various infections and vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and chikungunya are causing concern and anxiety among people.

Vulnerable groups of people are particularly encouraged to receive the mpox vaccine to prevent infection during the outbreak. These include health and care workers at risk of infection; people living in the same household or close community with someone with mpox, including children; people with multiple sexual partners, including men who have sex with men; and sex workers of any gender and their clients.

Some preventive measures include:
⦁ Avoid any close contact with an infected patient.
⦁ Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
⦁ Avoid any contact with wild animals or their meat.
⦁ Practice safe sex
⦁ Cook all foods containing animal meat thoroughly.
⦁ Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth.
⦁ Use personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for an infected person.