NEW DELHI: India has isolated a “suspected mpox case” as a precautionary measure, the Health Ministry announced on Sunday, amidst global concerns over the resurgence of the disease. This is the first reported suspected case in the country, which has so far not confirmed any instances of mpox.
The patient, a young male who recently traveled from a country experiencing active mpox transmission, has been placed in isolation at a designated hospital. The health ministry assured that the patient’s condition is stable and that samples are currently being tested to determine if mpox is present.
The health authorities provided no additional details about the patient’s travel history or the specific country from which he arrived. In their statement, the ministry said that there is no need for undue alarm.
“The country is fully prepared to deal with such an isolated travel-related case,” the statement read. It also reassured the public that the situation is under control and that the risk remains minimal.
Mpox has recently seen a resurgence. The World Health Organization (WHO) elevated its international alert level on August 14 following the detection of a new strain, Clade 1b, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The WHO has identified various transmission routes for mpox, with recent findings suggesting that droplet transmission is a “minor” route compared to other methods of spread. The resurgence of mpox has been observed in several regions, including parts of Asia and Europe, prompting increased vigilance and monitoring.
