India Reports Suspected Mpox Case Amid Global Health Concerns

India has identified a suspected mpox case in a man who traveled from a country experiencing an outbreak. The patient is isolated and stable, with tests ongoing to confirm the virus. The health ministry is following protocols and conducting contact tracing as the World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a public health emergency.

India has recorded a suspected case of mpox in a man who recently traveled from a country experiencing an outbreak of the virus, the health ministry announced on Sunday. The patient has been isolated in a hospital and is in stable condition, officials stated.

The ministry did not specify the strain of the mpox virus the patient might have, but tests are being conducted to confirm the infection. Mpox, which can spread through close contact, typically causes mild symptoms but can be fatal in rare instances. It manifests with flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body.

'The case is being managed according to established protocols, and contact tracing is ongoing to identify potential sources and assess the impact within the country,' the ministry said. Notably, The Hindu reported last month that India was on high alert following the emergence of a virulent mpox strain in Africa. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

Between 2022 and March 2024, India detected 30 cases of an older strain, known as clade 2.

(With inputs from agencies.)