The Ministry of Health has confirmed the presence of the Mpox virus, particularly West African type 2, in recent patients. This case, confirmed on September 9, 2024, is travel-related and is not part of a global health emergency involving the Class 1 virus. This is an isolated case, like the 30 reported in India since July 2022. The patient is a young man who recently traveled to a country where Mpox infections occur and is currently in stable condition in isolation at a designated medical facility.
Instructions from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
Health Minister Apurva Chandra said public health measures, including contact tracing and surveillance, were being actively pursued to contain the situation. The ministry has written to all states and union territories asking healthcare workers, particularly in dermatology, STD and NACO clinics, to recognize symptoms, follow case management protocols and expedite reporting of cases
Course of infection and symptoms
According to the World Health Organization, the main route of Mpox transmission in the current outbreak is sexual contact, followed by person-to-person contact through non-sexual contact. Common symptoms include rash and fever. The average age of those infected is 34 years and more than half of the cases are related to people infected with HIV.
Preventive measures and public awareness
Mr. Chandra also stressed the need to raise community awareness and timely report suspected cases and alerted the State AIDS Control Society. Although the current outbreak is classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the risk of spread outside Africa remains moderate. Health screening at airports and surveillance at hospitals have been increased to identify suspected cases.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
