India Reports First Case of New Mpox Strain in Kerala

India has reported its first case of the Mpox Clade 1b strain in a 38-year-old man from Kerala who recently returned from the UAE. Authorities have urged the public to be cautious, and heightened surveillance is in place, especially at airports. Treatment facilities have been arranged across the state.

India has reported its first case of the new Mpox Clade 1b strain, official sources confirmed on Monday. The patient, identified as a 38-year-old man from Kerala's Malappuram district, tested positive after returning from the United Arab Emirates.

The man is currently stable. This strain prompted the World Health Organization to declare Mpox a public health emergency last month for the second time. Earlier, a 26-year-old from Haryana's Hisar tested positive for the previous West African Clade 2 strain in Delhi.

Since the WHO's 2022 declaration of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, 30 cases have been reported in India. Kerala Health Minister Veena George has urged those with symptoms, especially travelers from abroad, to seek immediate medical attention. She also listed state-run hospitals prepared for treatment and isolation.

George emphasized increased surveillance at airports and adherence to Standard Operating Procedures for isolation and treatment. She warned health workers to follow infection control measures strictly.